Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
airBaltic is the flag carrier of Latvia as well as the launch and largest operator of the Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The airline operates hubs at Riga International Airport (RIX), Tallinn Airport (TLL), and Vilnius International Airport (VNO). Today, airBaltic announced that it officially become the first European airline to launch Starlink. It will offer high-speed internet for free across its entire fleet of Airbus A220-300s. The first one with the service took off today.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) granted the certification and airBaltic will now begin to offer seamless in-flight connectivity for passengers across the airline’s network. The Wi-Fi connection will work from boarding to deplaning and does not require an account or login. airBaltic’s entire fleet is expected to be outfitted by the end of 2025.
airBaltic celebrated this achievement with a special flight at Riga International Airport (RIX) that brought together key stakeholders, international and local media representatives, and influencers to experience Starlink’s capabilities firsthand. The first commercial flight offering the service to passengers is scheduled for tomorrow on airBaltic flight BT221 from Riga International Airport (RIX) to Munich International Airport (MUC).
Starlink provides high-speed broadband internet with low latency in more than 120 countries. airBaltic is far from the only carrier bringing Starlink onto its aircraft. Back in September, United Airlines announced that it would be adding Starlink connectivity to its fleet. The implementation timeline was just sped up and United began testing this month. Air France also announced in September that it would be rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi on its planes. Other airlines like Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and WestJet have also shared plans to offer this service.
Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic, said:
This is a historic milestone for airBaltic and a game-changer for European air travel. By becoming the first European airline to integrate SpaceX’s Starlink, we are redefining what connectivity in the skies means. This is not just an improvement, it is a revolution in air travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront, delivering the future of connectivity to our passengers already today.”
Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’ Vice President of Starlink Business Operations, added:
Customers and crew of airBaltic flights will now have access to high-speed, low-latency internet the moment they step onboard their plane. This year, we intend to have the entire airBaltic fleet connected with Starlink, and we couldn’t be more excited to provide reliable internet service on tens of thousands of flights and counting all around the world.”
Anthony’s Take: Starlink seems like it will be the solution to make in-flight connectivity similar to what it is on the ground. I look forward to being able to work on flights from gate to gate without worrying about all of the issues that current providers have when flying.
(Image Credits: airBaltic.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
