Lufthansa Group is partnering with Starlink to make high-speed wireless internet available on all 850-plus aircraft across its mainline and subsidiary airlines.
In a statement, the company said Starlink-enabled WiFi will be gradually introduced starting as early as the second half of this year. Lufthansa expects to complete the rollout by 2029.
Starlink’s higher bandwidth and speed will enable streaming, cloud-based work, and other high-speed applications during flights, airline officials said. The service will be free for all members of Lufthansa’s frequent flyer and Travel ID programs.
“The Lufthansa Group is taking the next step and setting an essential milestone for the premium travel experience of our customers,” Dieter Vranckx, the company’s chief communications officer, said in a news release. “Connectivity on board plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers.”
Lufthansa Group owns or has a stake in Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Austrian, Brussels, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa City Airlines, SunExpress, and SWISS.
A number of airlines have signed deals with Starlink for satellite-based internet service over the last two years, including United, Alaska Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Air France. Lufthansa Group is so far the largest airline group in Europe to announce plans to upgrade its fleet with the technology.
