NEW YORK, December 25, 2024 - International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, is in discussions with Elon Musk's Starlink to enhance its fleet with satellite Wi-Fi services.
The negotiations indicate the rapid growth of SpaceX's satellite internet business among major global airlines, according to Bloomberg News.
IAG, which also owns Iberia in Spain and Aer Lingus in Ireland, has not reached a final decision and is evaluating options from various providers, including Amazon's new Project Kuiper.
The report states, 'These discussions highlight a significant shift in the airline service market driven by the deployment of satellite constellations orbiting closer to Earth.'
It is anticipated that the airline will finalize agreements with Starlink and other providers to replace costly and limited in-flight Wi-Fi services. The satellite broadband is expected to meet passenger expectations for better internet access during flights.
Currently, Starlink, SpaceX's internet-from-space initiative, serves approximately 4 million customers through a network of thousands of low-orbit satellites.