Starlink-powered in-flight Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly common on major airlines, but will passengers have to pay for the service? According to SpaceX, the answer is no – at least for most travelers.
Nick Seitz, the global head of Starlink’s aviation business, recently spoke at CES 2026 and confirmed that airlines are expected to keep Starlink Wi-Fi free for passengers. While airlines are exploring ways to monetize the experience, Seitz believes that offering free internet access can actually be a profitable approach when combined with personalization and advertising.
With Starlink’s high bandwidth capabilities, airlines can treat onboard connectivity more like home broadband. This opens up opportunities for targeted ads, branded experiences, and deeper personalization – all without charging passengers directly.
United Airlines has already implemented this model on flights equipped with Starlink, requiring passengers to log in using the airline’s free loyalty program and showing ads during the login process. Testing has shown that Starlink-powered Wi-Fi on United flights can deliver speeds of around 100 Mbps, surpassing legacy satellite systems.
While low-cost carriers may still opt to charge for access due to the upfront costs of installing Starlink hardware, premium airlines are committed to offering fast, free connectivity as a competitive advantage. An Air France executive at CES emphasized that free, best-in-class Wi-Fi is essential for premium carriers.
Starlink’s presence in aviation is growing rapidly, with over 21 million airline passengers served in 2025 and 1,400 commercial aircraft now equipped with the technology. Major airlines like Emirates, flydubai, British Airways, and Qatar Airways have either launched or announced Starlink-powered Wi-Fi, with Qatar now operating the largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet in the world.
Passengers are increasingly expecting a seamless high-speed internet experience in the air, and with Starlink, airlines finally have the infrastructure to deliver it. This not only enhances the passenger experience but also presents an opportunity for airlines to generate revenue without charging passengers for Wi-Fi access.