Starting as early as next year, United Airlines passengers will have access to free in-flight Wi-Fi and Netflix streaming, including shows like “Culinary Class Wars,” thanks to a new partnership with SpaceX. The airline plans to equip approximately 1,000 aircraft with SpaceX’s satellite-based internet service, Starlink. Last month, United Airlines announced that passengers will soon enjoy high-speed internet, enabling them to stream videos, use social media, play online games, and shop—just as they would on the ground.
The era of free in-flight Wi-Fi is quickly gaining momentum in the global aviation industry. First introduced in the 2000s, in-flight Wi-Fi initially involved installing antennas on planes to receive signals from ground stations or satellites. Due to the high costs—sometimes reaching tens of billions of won—it was originally a paid service offered only on select flights.
However, with the rise of apps like YouTube and the growing expectation for continuous connectivity, airlines are expanding their Wi-Fi-enabled fleets and moving towards offering it as a standard service, similar to in-flight meals. Starlink’s low-orbit satellites have significantly improved data speeds, making high-speed internet more accessible. An airline industry insider commented, “As the service has advanced to support high-definition video streaming and other tasks, we expect more passengers to take advantage of it.”
Last month, Hawaiian Airlines began offering free in-flight Wi-Fi on select aircraft, with passengers praising the experience online. Comments included, “I can check emails, use KakaoTalk, and even stream Netflix without issues,” and “I’m posting this from the plane—the speed is incredibly fast.” Air New Zealand plans to introduce free Wi-Fi on domestic flights by the end of the year, and Air France recently announced plans to offer free Wi-Fi starting next summer. As post-pandemic travel demand surges, airlines are increasingly competing to differentiate their services
Many of these airlines have partnered with Starlink. Currently, in-flight Wi-Fi is provided through ground stations or via geostationary and low-orbit satellites. Ground-based systems often suffer from signal disruptions and slower speeds, making them less reliable for international flights. Low-orbit satellites, however, offer faster speeds and lower latency due to their closer proximity to Earth (500-1,500 km altitude) compared to geostationary satellites.
In South Korea, few airlines offer in-flight Wi-Fi. Asiana Airlines was the first to introduce it in 2017, followed by Korean Air, which began offering Wi-Fi last June using geostationary satellites. Their service costs around 30,000 won for unlimited access on long-haul flights. Among low-cost carriers, Jin Air launched its Wi-Fi service earlier this year, while Air Premia provides limited-speed service, offering free KakaoTalk messaging for up to an hour.
Demand for in-flight internet services continues to grow. An Asiana Airlines representative stated that between 10% and 20% of passengers on Wi-Fi-enabled flights use the service. An Air Premia representative similarly noted, “We expect demand to keep growing and plan to expand the service to more aircraft.” Other carriers, such as Eastar Jet and Air Seoul, are also considering introducing in-flight Wi-Fi soon.
