SINGAPORE – Passengers flying on selected Singapore Airlines (SIA) flights will soon enjoy better internet connectivity while in the air, with the roll-out of a new broadband service on board.
The Singapore-flagged carrier will progressively introduce Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based broadband service, said SIA in a statement on May 4.
The service will be available only on SIA’s Airbus A350-900 long-haul, A350-900 ultra-long-range and A380 aircraft, with the roll-out to start from the first quarter of 2027 till end-2029.
Other aircraft in SIA’s fleet are the Airbus A350-900 medium-haul, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-10 and Boeing 737-8.
Starlink’s service utilises an array of thousands of LEO satellites to beam data to users through antennas. These satellites are much closer to the Earth’s surface than geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, which are typically used to provide in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.
As data travels a shorter distance between the Earth’s surface and LEO satellites, as compared with GEO ones, providers like Starlink can provide internet connectivity at higher speeds and lower lag.
A report in end-April by Ookla, a company that specialises in network intelligence, competitive benchmarking and customer experience analytics, shows that Starlink’s internet speeds on flights are significantly faster than other types of in-flight Wi-Fi services.
For example, Starlink has a median download speed of 319.99 Mbps on United Airways, compared with 56.48 Mbps on Intelsat, and 15.34 Mbps on the same airline.
Customers in all cabin classes on Starlink-equipped flights will enjoy more seamless connectivity from take-off to landing for activities such as video streaming, sharing content on social media, gaming, and also sending large files, SIA said. The service will be unlimited and complimentary.
According to SIA’s website, all SIA aircraft are equipped with Wi-Fi service, though the current in-flight Wi-Fi does not support streaming apps such as Disney+, Netflix and YouTube.
Also, in-flight Wi-Fi is currently available about 15 minutes after take-off and up to 15 minutes before arrival.
Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, SIA’s senior vice-president for customer experience, said: “Singapore Airlines already offers the world’s most comprehensive complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi across our entire fleet.
“Starlink will take this to the next level by delivering next-generation high-speed connectivity, enabling customers to stay entertained, connected and productive throughout their journey, with a smoother and seamless experience from take-off to landing.”
SIA joins airlines such as Qatar Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in offering the high-speed internet service on board, with Emirates also recently completing its first Starlink-equipped flight.
