Scandinavian airline SAS has begun rolling out high-speed onboard WiFi powered by SpaceX’s Starlink, offering passengers gate-to-gate connectivity with speeds of more than 500 Mbps.
The service, available from 24 March, will be free at first for EuroBonus members through a partnership with mobile operator 3 marking the beginning of a broader commercial collaboration.
The rollout will start with SAS’s Airbus A320 family, with a significant portion of the fleet expected to be equipped before the summer season. Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite network, made up of more than 10,000 satellites, aims to deliver consistent, low-latency connectivity, including on northern routes where in-flight internet has often been less reliable.
SAS said the move is part of a wider push to enhance its digital offering as it continues its turnaround strategy. “Connectivity has become a natural part of everyday life, including when travelling,” said Paul Verhagen, chief commercial officer at SAS. “This solution brings the onboard experience closer to how people live today.”
The airline, the first in Europe to introduce Starlink on an Airbus A320, plans to expand the technology across additional aircraft types later this year, subject to regulatory approvals.