Elon Musk's Starlink is becoming an in-flight must-have. I tried it on Qatar Airways, and it's a game changer.
Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet is rapidly expanding into the airline industry, with dozens of carriers adopting the service to provide high-speed in-flight connectivity. Passengers and airlines are increasingly viewing this technology as a competitive necessity for modern air travel.
Why it matters
The adoption of Starlink by major airlines represents a significant technological upgrade to the passenger experience and a major expansion of SpaceX's commercial footprint.
The author filed a Business Insider article from 36,000 feet with Starlink WiFi. Pete Syme/Business Insider Elon Musk's Starlink internet is becoming more and more popular for airline passengers. I tried it out on Qatar Airways' first flight with the service in 2024. It reached impressively high speeds that let me video call friends and file an article. Elon Musk's Starlink is evolving from a niche perk to a necessity for high fliers. The venture capitalist Jason Calacanis said he chooses flights based on whether they offer Starlink , regardless of price or journey length. Rick Ross said he spent $700,000 putting it on his private jet. And in the first earnings call after its IPO, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said one airline reported some customers were choosing unnecessary layovers to ensure they were on a flight with Starlink .
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