Southwest Says Starlink Will Be on Its Entire Fleet by Fall 2027

Image: Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines says it is bringing Starlink Wi-Fi to its entire fleet, and it expects to be the first major U.S. airline to finish a fleetwide rollout, in fall 2027. That’s according to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards press release on Thursday, which says the service will provide high-speed connectivity from takeoff to landing.

Wi-Fi will be free for Rapid Rewards members, thanks to T-Mobile. The release’s fine print says that applies where available and only on Wi-Fi-enabled designated aircraft. The Starlink news was one item in a release mostly about new loyalty tiers, Companion Pass changes and a lounge network, and it doesn’t include aircraft counts or an updated installation schedule.

Southwest has been working up to this. In February it said it would start installing Starlink, with the first aircraft entering service this summer and more than 300 outfitted by the end of 2026. In June, its first Starlink jet flew from Dallas to Albuquerque. The new release doesn’t say whether the 300-plane target for this year still stands.

The “first major U.S. airline” line is a claim about finishing first, and the race is crowded. United says Starlink is now on more than 635 of its aircraft and plans to be done by the end of 2027. American plans to put it on every mainline jet, more than 1,030 aircraft, with installs starting in early 2027.

Free Wi-Fi for loyalty members is becoming the norm, too. United’s is free for MileagePlus members, and Alaska’s plans make it complimentary for Atmos Rewards members, also thanks to T-Mobile. If you fly Southwest, would free Starlink Wi-Fi on every plane change how you pick your next flight?