easyJet has signed a deal with SpaceX to bring Starlink internet to its Airbus fleet — the airline's first-ever inflight connectivity. Fitting starts in the first half of 2027 on A320, A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with the rollout finished by early 2028.
For an airline that has long offered no internet at all, skipping older, congested systems and going straight to Starlink is a bold move. The airline also sees it as more than entertainment: passengers could eventually use the connection to check journey details or order food and drinks from their seat.
Here's the catch: nobody knows what it will cost. easyJet hasn't promised free access for anyone, has described connectivity as an "optional extra," and says Starlink will manage access, with pricing to be announced once equipped aircraft fly. Everything points to a paid product.
That marks a real shift. Free Wi-Fi was originally central to Starlink's pitch to airlines, but SpaceX has relaxed that requirement — Copa Airlines already launched Starlink with paid access for most passengers (free only for business class and some eligible flyers), and Frontier's announcement also referenced a Starlink-managed system. The Starlink logo no longer guarantees a free connection.
The paid model likely explains easyJet's change of heart, too. CEO Kenton Jarvis said in January that while he liked Starlink's performance, "the economics aren't quite working for us." Nine months later, a deal exists — charging passengers as an ancillary revenue stream appears to have tipped the balance.
The obvious next question is Ryanair. Its objections have always been about cost, including the fuel penalty of externally mounted antennas, and scepticism that passengers on short hops will pay to connect. But Michael O'Leary hasn't ruled it out — he told Reuters in January that Ryanair expects to offer free Wi-Fi within three to five years as the technology improves. Watching easyJet's rollout gives Ryanair free data on uptake and pricing before it commits. With Wizz Air also embracing Starlink, the pressure is building, though the public feud between O'Leary and Elon Musk might yet push Ryanair towards a rival like Amazon Leo instead.
For travellers, this matters at the booking stage. easyJet's seats and amenities are spartan, so fast, dependable internet — even at a modest fee — could meaningfully change how a flight feels, and could sway choices when fares and schedules are close. Just don't book assuming it'll be free; pricing remains unannounced, and the era of Starlink-equals-free is over.
