The world of aviation is constantly evolving.
One such innovation, undoubtedly the most visible to passengers, is the introduction of fast in-flight WiFi.
Gone are the days of putting your phone on "flight mode" before opening a book and abandoning it after a few pages.
Now, we're constantly connected: Where once you might have been lucky enough to send a text message, now you can stream high-quality video — and that's largely thanks to satellite internet provider Starlink.
Since Lufthansa Group is the latest company to announce the introduction of this technology on its aircraft, here's a look at how it all works.
What is Starlink and how does it work?
Starlink, which is a subsidiary of Elon Musk's SpaceX, provides internet access across the globe using a constellation of satellites.
When a user accesses the internet via Starlink, the data is transmitted to one of the more than 6,750 satellites currently in orbit, which are then sent to an onboard receiving antenna, writes € news.
Unlike traditional satellites, which orbit the Earth nearly 36,000 km above the equator, Starlink satellites use a low Earth orbit.
As the information sent travels at the speed of light, the shortened distance to the satellite makes the round-trip travel time shorter.
Known as latency, this is measured in milliseconds, with Starlink's latency being around 25 ms, compared to 600 ms when using traditional satellites.
The large number of Starlink satellites in orbit means the company has created a global network that allows people in some of the most remote areas of the world to access the internet, making it perfect for use on board an airplane.
Which airlines offer Starlink?
SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites for the first time in 2019, with a beta launch of its internet service in 2020.
It wasn't until early 2024 that the first airline began rolling out the service across its entire fleet, with Hawaiian Airlines adding it to all aircraft by October 2024.
Qatar Airways quickly followed suit, with deliveries beginning the same month, and now around 120 aircraft are equipped with Starlink.
Latvian airline airBaltic became the first to introduce the service in Europe, starting in February 2025, with Air France and SAS also introducing Starlink last year.
The Lufthansa Group, which includes major carriers for Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, announced a collaboration with the internet provider in mid-January, with plans to implement Starlink across its entire fleet from the second half of 2026.
Virgin Atlantic will become the first UK airline equipped with Starlink starting in the third quarter of the year.
In the Middle East, Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, has just announced that it will launch the service from mid-2026.
Other airlines in the region with Starlink include Emirates, Qatar Airways and flyDubai.
For the most part, airlines offer the service to customers for free, although in some cases you will need to be a member of an airline program.
Which airlines are not getting Starlink?
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said the airline would not introduce the service due to the short average duration of flights, as well as the costs associated with installing the equipment.
No low-cost airline currently offers Starlink, although Eurowings is part of the Lufthansa Group, and will thus add the service in the coming months.
Barcelona-based Level will also launch Starlink at the end of the year. /Telegraph/
