easyJet, the UK-based low-cost airline, said on Monday 26 October 2026 that it will fit Starlink satellite internet across its fleet, giving its passengers an onboard connection for the first time. Installation is due to begin in the first half of 2027 and to be completed by early 2028, according to Travelling for Business and briefs.
Key facts
- Announced Monday 26 October 2026; briefs published its report at 5:02 a.m. EDT that day and updated it at 6:09 a.m.
- Starlink is the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company.
- The work covers easyJet’s Airbus A320 and A321 fleets, the airline told Travelling for Business.
- Fitting starts in the first half of 2027; the rollout is expected to finish in early 2028.
- SpaceX’s network will provide the connection for the whole flight, according to the airline.
- easyJet has not said whether the service will be free or charged for, nor which aircraft will be fitted first.
- easyJet carried 100 million passengers in 2025 and is one of Europe’s largest carriers, Travelling for Business reports.
Why it matters
Travelling for Business says the move closes one of the clearest gaps between easyJet and full-service rivals for UK business travellers who use the airline for short-haul work trips across Europe. The outlet reports that onboard connectivity is likely to become another factor in airline choice, and that the arrival of easyJet Wi-Fi removes one argument for paying more to fly a full-service carrier.
briefs puts it differently, reporting that onboard connectivity is becoming a competitive feature even for budget carriers, and that easyJet framed the deal as a way to broaden its appeal to both corporate and holiday customers. Starlink News reported the fleet decision separately in easyJet to Fit Starlink Wifi Across Fleet From 2027.
What passengers are being promised
As well as browsing and streaming on their own devices, passengers will be able to check flight status through the easyJet app and website and look up information about their destination, such as local weather and transport, the airline said, according to Travelling for Business.
Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s chief executive, said in comments reported by the same outlet that staying connected matters more than ever to many of the airline’s customers, from holidaymakers wanting in-flight entertainment to business customers keeping up with events on the ground. He added that partnering with SpaceX gives travellers more of the options they want when choosing who to fly with.
Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, said: “Fast, reliable connectivity from take-off to landing means people can work, stream or stay in touch without interruption.”
A reversal since January
Both outlets report that easyJet’s position has shifted this year. In January 2026, Jarvis said the airline had held talks with SpaceX but that the numbers did not add up, and that easyJet was also speaking to other providers about adding Wi-Fi when the timing was right.
The two reports word that January remark differently. briefs quotes Jarvis saying “the economics of the deal don’t work”, while Travelling for Business quotes him saying the “economics aren’t quite working for us”. Neither source explains what changed between January and the announcement, and neither has published revised terms.
Where easyJet sits among Starlink’s airline customers
briefs describes the agreement as another aviation win for SpaceX, adding to contracts with IAG SA, the owner of British Airways, with Emirates and with United Airlines Holdings Inc. Travelling for Business reports that British Airways’ plan to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi put pressure on other UK airlines to follow, and that United now offers Starlink on nearly half its daily flights — the carrier has said free Starlink has pulled passengers from rival carriers.
Among European low-cost airlines, Travelling for Business reports that Wizz Air has agreed its own Starlink deal for its fleet from 2027, while Ryanair has so far held back over cost. The outlet says Starlink’s aviation service is now being fitted by a growing number of carriers in Europe; elsewhere, Singapore Airlines is fitting Starlink to 53 jets from early 2027.
Market reaction as reported
briefs said recent market screens showed easyJet PLC at 680.20, up 0.18%, and International Consolidated Airlines Group SA at 412.70, up 4.56%, with Ryanair Holdings PLC at 23.12, up 2.62%, and Apollo Global Management Inc at 116.20, up 2.99%. The outlet did not state the time or venue of those quotes. It said readers should watch how the rollout and the take-private plan shape easyJet’s product mix and demand, and what that signals for suppliers and rivals already tied to SpaceX.
Neither source addresses Starlink pricing, licensing or availability in Africa, and neither says whether easyJet’s onboard service will reach routes outside the airline’s European network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will easyJet’s Starlink Wi-Fi be free or paid?
easyJet has not said, according to Travelling for Business, which reports the airline has confirmed neither pricing nor which aircraft are fitted first. The outlet notes British Airways plans to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi, and advises business travellers to check whether their travel policy allows paid Wi-Fi to be claimed on expenses once easyJet’s pricing is confirmed.
Why has Ryanair not signed a Starlink deal?
Ryanair has held back over cost, according to Travelling for Business. briefs reports that Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary sparred publicly with Elon Musk earlier this year after arguing that the weight and drag of a Starlink antenna on the cabin roof would raise fuel costs, making the system unattractive for the Irish low-cost carrier.
Can passengers count on Wi-Fi being available on an easyJet flight in 2027?
No. Travelling for Business says travellers should not assume a given flight will be connected until the fleet-wide fitting is finished in early 2028. Its advice is to keep offline copies of documents and presentations and to treat any connection during the rollout as a bonus rather than a certainty.
Who is buying easyJet, and does that affect the Starlink deal?
briefs reports that easyJet is moving through a take-private transaction with Apollo Global Management Inc, the US private equity firm, which has signalled plans to roll out premium and business-focused offerings on core routes. briefs frames the Starlink announcement as part of easyJet broadening its appeal to both corporate and holiday customers.
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