Elon Musk’s Starlink connectivity is already operating on some planes and will soon be coming to airlines around the world—potentially putting an end to airplane mode during long flights.
Airplane mode was once a thing of the past on flights, but some airlines are recommending continuing to use it as a precaution. That’s starting to change forever thanks to Elon Musk and his Starlink phone network.
On October 22, the first aircraft connected to Musk’s telephony system flew a Qatar Airways Boeing 777 from Doha to London. Other airlines, including United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Swiss Air, plan to add Starlink services by the end of 2025.
Some of the low-cost airlines operating in Europe, such as Ryanair and Vueling, have not yet commented on the news. The companies may take a while to implement this technology on their planes, given that most do not even offer WiFi to passengers on short flights.
Qatar Airways has announced that it is equipping 12 Boeing 777s for long-haul routes that will be available later this year. Starlink connectivity will take a little longer to reach the entire fleet, with Airbus A380s and A350s expected to be available next year.
The first travelers have tested the Starlink network with airplane mode
Hamad Airport in Doha, Qatar, announced the arrival of Starlink to flights with posters before boarding for London. Elon Musk’s company showed a promotional video after the safety briefing and handed out cupcakes with the Starlink logo.
Pete Syme has traveled on the first flight connected to the Starlink network service and has recounted his experience to Business Insider. The first surprise was that the mobile phone connected automatically when selecting the OryxComms network without having to enter the email, the flight number, or pay for access.
Best of all, Starlink’s connection is free for users regardless of the fare they have contracted. A similar flight between London and Doha with the same airline costs around 909.63 Indian Rupee with a download speed of around 5 megabytes per second. The only things you can do on board are watch YouTube videos in 360p, load web pages, and listen to music on Spotify.
Starlink’s WiFi speed reaches 215 megabytes, although it reduces during the trip depending on the area you fly over. “On Tuesday’s flight there were several influencers and YouTubers who I saw live-streaming on Instagram from the air, although I think business travelers will be the ones who will take most advantage of the internet speed on board,” says Pete Syme.
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Another new feature of high-speed satellite WiFi is the possibility of having an Internet connection at all times, something that conventional airlines do not offer. Flights activate this service when the plane is already in cruise mode and a significant amount of time is lost inside the plane waiting for boarding, disembarking, and during takeoff and landing.
