First European airline to launch SpaceX’s Starlink in-flight connectivity - airBaltic

airBaltic officially became the first European airline to introduce SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet for free onboard its Airbus A220-300 fleet. With certification granted by EASA, this milestone marks a new era of seamless in-flight connectivity for passengers across the airline’s network. To celebrate this, airBaltic hosted a special flight at RIX Riga Airport, bringing together key stakeholders, international and local media representatives, and influencers to experience Starlink’s capabilities firsthand. The first commercial flight featuring free, high-speed Starlink internet for airBaltic passengers is scheduled for tomorrow and will be airBaltic flight BT221 from Riga to Munich, Germany. 

Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic commented: “This is a historic milestone for airBaltic and a game-changer for European air travel. By becoming the first European airline to integrate SpaceX’s Starlink, we are redefining what connectivity in the skies means. This is not just an improvement, it is a revolution in air travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront, delivering the future of connectivity to our passengers already today."

Chad Gibbs, SpaceX's Vice President of Starlink Business Operationsstated: "Customers and crew of airBaltic flights will now have access to high-speed, low-latency internet the moment they step onboard their plane. This year, we intend to have the entire airBaltic fleet connected with Starlink, and we couldn’t be more excited to provide reliable internet service on tens of thousands of flights and counting all around the world."

airBaltic has commenced Starlink installation across its Airbus A220-300 fleet and expects to complete the full fleet integration by the end of 2025. With Starlink, airBaltic will provide uninterrupted, free-of-charge, high-speed, and low-latency internet from boarding to landing, allowing passengers to stream videos, work remotely, and stay connected without requiring logins or additional setups.

Starlink is being used by so many people, businesses and organizations in more than 120 countries, territories, and other markets around the world, spanning all 7 continents and oceans. The number of people using Starlink has grown to millions and counting. Serving commercial aircraft since last year, Starlink provides ultra-fast speeds and low latency by utilizing satellites in low-Earth orbit, positioned over 65 times closer than traditional geostationary satellites.

This innovative approach allows Starlink to deliver up to 500 Mbps with a low latency connection, enabling an at home experience where passengers can engage in activities previously unavailable during flights, such as online gaming, using virtual private networks, and other high-bandwidth tasks.