Air France partners with Starlink to offer free speedy in-air Wi-Fi

Starlink will eventually be rolled out to Air France’s entire fleet, with access available for free to all travel cabins. Users will have to sign up for and log into the airline’s Flying Blue loyalty program to use the service.

“During the flight, customers will be able to easily stay in touch with friends and family, follow all the world’s news live, play video games online, and of course stream TV, films, and series,” Air France said in a release. “The service will be accessible from smartphones, digital tablets, and laptops, and each customer will be able to connect several devices simultaneously.”

Air France noted that during the transition to Starlink, there will still be a free “Message Pass” for Flying Blue members as well as a paid Wi-Fi option for expanded connectivity needs.

The announcement comes just over a week after United Airlines unveiled a similar partnership with Starlink. Delta Airlines, a major Air France partner, was the first to roll out Starlink on its flights starting in 2023 and is in the process of adding the Wi-Fi to international flights.

Air France, and other airlines that have switched to the SpaceX service, boast that Starlink offers stronger streaming and faster connectivity due to its low-Earth orbit satellites that can provide internet access in remote regions and over the ocean.