Passengers ranked the top 10 airlines with the best in-flight WiFi. Elon Musk's Starlink is all over the list.
Skytrax's 2026 World Airline Awards introduced a category for best in-flight WiFi, with Qatar Airways taking the top spot. The rankings highlight the dominance of Elon Musk's Starlink, which provides connectivity for seven of the top ten airlines.
Why it matters
High-speed in-flight connectivity has become a critical competitive factor for airlines looking to improve passenger satisfaction.
Airlines are upgrading their in-flight WiFi offerings. eastwest photo/Getty Images Skytrax's World Airline Awards introduced a new award in 2026: World's Best Onboard WiFi. Qatar Airways won first place, followed by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Seven out of the top 10 airlines are partnered with Elon Musk's Starlink. Move aside priority boarding and extra legroom — airlines are investing in high-speed in-flight WiFi as a key amenity to attract customers. This year, Skytrax's World Airline Awards added a World's Best Onboard WiFi category "to reflect the importance to today's customer experience of fast and free onboard connectivity," Skytrax wrote in a press release. The ranking was determined by surveying passengers from over 100 nationalities between September 2025 and August 2026 in the world's largest airline passenger satisfaction survey. One WiFi provider popped up again and again in Skytrax's ranking of winning airlines: Starlink.
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