Air France launches complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi for fast internet access onboard.

Air France is set to join the ranks of major airlines providing free Starlink Wi-Fi service.

The Parisian airline announced on Thursday its plans to install Starlink satellite internet on its planes next year. Wi-Fi will be free for all passengers, requiring only a Flying Blue frequent flyer account, which is easy to register for.

Starlink will be accessible across both Air France's mainline and regional fleets. Although a timeline for completing the installations hasn’t been shared, the airline confirmed that its current paid Wi-Fi will still be available until Starlink is operational.

Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk's SpaceX, offers satellite internet in over 100 countries globally. Serving a diverse clientele from homeowners to the U.S. military, the most thrilling advancement for travelers is Starlink's introduction on commercial flights.

Air France will become the largest airline to team up with Starlink, significantly enhancing the inflight internet experience, especially given its previous unreliable connectivity on long-haul flights. With download speeds reaching up to 350 megabits per second, Starlink can handle gaming, VPN use, streaming, and more.

I recently had the chance to experience Starlink's impressive speeds during a demonstration flight with JSX, a public charter jet service. While JSX isn’t a conventional airline like United, it provides free Starlink Wi-Fi on its 30-seat Embraer regional jets.

JSX was the pioneer in adopting Starlink Wi-Fi, and my experience during the demo flight suggests this service holds significant promise for the aviation sector.

I experienced no issues streaming content, participating in Zoom meetings, and downloading music all at once on five devices. Real-world download speeds exceeded 100 megabits per second, and the low latency ensured a buffer-free experience while watching movies and shows.

Alongside Air France, Starlink is being installed or already in use by eight airlines globally. These include United Airlines, JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, Zipair, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, and WestJet. Notably, Hawaiian Airlines announced this week that it has completed Starlink installations across its Airbus fleet.

As fast inflight internet becomes a standard expectation for travelers, it’s hoped that more airlines will collaborate with Starlink. It truly stands out as the fastest and most dependable satellite internet provider I’ve encountered throughout my journeys.