Alaska Air will offer Starlink in-flight internet starting next year

Alaska Air Group announced that it will start offering Starlink Wi-Fi on its flights next year and expand the service to its entire fleet by 2027. The company noted that the Starlink service will be free for members of its new loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, and that T-Mobile will offer a "seamless, ad-free Wi-Fi log-on" to the in-flight Starlink service. Alaska Air touted the benefits of "ultra-fast speeds... up to 7x faster than the geostationary satellite-based Wi-Fi systems that most airlines use today." Other airlines, such as British Airways and Emirates, are also reportedly in negotiations with SpaceX to offer Starlink in-flight internet. However, the installation and monthly costs of the Starlink system can be high, with estimates of around $300,000 to equip a 737 and $120 monthly per seat, plus an additional $120 for live TV. Despite these costs, carriers see reliable in-flight internet as a potential game-changer, as it would allow customers to work, communicate, and stream videos or live TV.