Dutch airline KLM will introduce a Starlink-based free high-speed Wi-Fi service on long-haul international flights starting from mid-2027.
KLM announced on the 3rd that it will gradually expand its free, high-speed, unlimited Wi-Fi service, currently offered on most aircraft operating routes within Europe, to intercontinental flights starting from mid-2027.
With this service expansion, passengers on long-haul routes will be able to use personal electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablet PCs not only for sending emails and web surfing, but also for listening to music, playing online games, and streaming movies and dramas.
Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi is provided free of charge across all seat classes, including economy class. It is available to anyone who is a member of 'Flying Blue,' the joint loyalty program of Air France-KLM. Non-members can also use the service for free by signing up as members before boarding or through the in-flight portal.
Starlink is a low Earth orbit satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk's space company SpaceX. It is characterized by providing fast communication speeds and low latency by utilizing a network of low Earth orbit satellites that are closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites. This enables stable internet connectivity even on long-haul routes flying over oceans.
Marjan Rintel, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KLM, stated, "By expanding the free high-speed Wi-Fi service to intercontinental flights from mid-2027, we have realized a long-standing wish of our customers," adding, "We will continue to improve our services so that customers can freely use the internet during long-haul flights and enjoy more comfortable and convenient travel."
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