Virgin Atlantic is accelerating the rollout of Starlink as it gears up to introduce free, high-speed Wi-Fi across its entire fleet.
Regarded the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky, Starlink connectivity will be available onboard the airline’s Airbus A350 fleet from May, with all A350s to be connected by early this summer.
The first customer flight with Starlink is due to take place in early May on flight VS153 from London Heathrow to New York, JFK.
The technology will then be installed across the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330neo fleets, with connectivity expected to reach full fleet coverage anticipated in 2027.
Virgin said Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet access around the world, including the most isolated areas.
It will be offered free of charge for Virgin’s Flying Club members and will allow these passengers to connect seamlessly from the moment they board the aircraft.
During the flight, Starlink will enable customers to enjoy elevated entertainment, including downloading and streaming TV shows, gaming with friends on the ground, internet shopping, catching up on work, watching live sport, connecting with friends and family and even making brief audio calls.
Customers will be able to utilise multiple devices simultaneously including smartphones, laptops and tablets.
Juha Jaervinen, Chief Customer Officer, Virgin Atlantic, said: “It’s all part of creating a truly connected, ‘home away from home’ experience, giving customers the freedom to use their time onboard exactly as they choose, whether that’s staying close to work, to plans, or to the people who matter most.”
