CRAWLEY — Yesterday, British carrier Virgin Atlantic (VS) announced it would introduce high-speed in-flight connectivity through a new partnership with Starlink, making it the latest airline to offer this technology. VS has announced that its Starlink Wi-Fi will be provided free of charge in all cabins to its “Flying Club” members. 

Virgin Atlantic will become the first UK airline to adopt Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by the aerospace company SpaceX. The rollout of the Wi-Fi service will commence in the third quarter of 2026 and will be fully installed on its Boeing 787, A350, and A330-900 fleets by the end of 2027. 

The airline’s Chief Experience Officer, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, said the new service would allow guests to “create a home away from home experience, allowing customers to connect seamlessly, from the moment they board the aircraft, enjoying the same quality in the air as they do on the ground.” Passengers will be able to perform a variety of tasks online, including streaming and downloading entertainment, working, and watching live sports games.

Starlink Rollout, So Far

Starlink has gained popularity among airlines recently, with over ten airlines already using the service or set to implement it soon. However, some airlines have chosen not to use the technology due to its compatibility issues in certain regions, such as China. 

Additionally, United Airlines (UA) temporarily disabled Starlink Wi-Fi service on about two dozen Embraer E175 regional jets last month after pilots reported experiencing static interference on their cockpit radios while communicating with air traffic control (ATC).

The interference was traced to the newly installed Starlink satellite internet antennas. Pilots experienced bursts of static and hiss on the VHF radios used for ATC communications after Starlink antennas were installed.