Lufthansa chooses Starlink: from 2026 high-speed Wi-Fi on all group planes (including ITA)

In recent months more and more airlines have announced the introduction of Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on board their aircraft. Now comes some very important news for European aviation as well: the group Lufthansa has confirmed that it will bring Elon Musk connectivity to all of its airlines' aircraft. Let's talk about one of the connectivity projects plus ambitious never announced in Europe.

Starlink will be installed on more than 850 Lufthansa Group aircraft

Lufthansa's plan calls for the installation of Starlink high-speed satellite internet on more than 850 aircraft, both of the existing fleet and on new aircraft being delivered. The project will involve not only Lufthansa but all group companies: SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti and Edelweiss.

With this move, the German one becomes the largest european air group to focus on a comprehensive fleet upgrade with Starlink technology-no other airline or group to date has announced that it will install connectivity on such a large number of aircraft.

Free (and fast) Wi-Fi for all passengers-the only requirement will be to have a Miles&More account

One of the most interesting aspects, as is well known, is that Starlink Wi-Fi will be free of charge for all passengers in possession of a Miles & More Travel ID, that is, an account for the German group's loyalty program; registration, of course, is free of charge. Note that one will be able to connect for free regardless of travel class: the sine qua non, as mentioned, is to have an M&M account.

Starlink is known to offer high speed and low latency, so the goal is to ensure a similar connectivity experience to that available on the ground, significantly improving comfort during flight.

When the installation of Starlink will begin.

The introduction of Starlink Wi-Fi will begin in the second half of 2026. The rollout will be gradual and Should be completed by 2029, when the group's entire fleet will be equipped with the new system. At the moment, however, the order has not been communicated with which individual companies or different types of aircraft will receive the new service. 

"In our anniversary year, in which we celebrate 100 years of Lufthansa, we have decided to introduce a new high-speed Internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group takes the next step and sets a milestone for our customers' premium experience. Onboard connectivity plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are investing not only in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers," so commented Dieter Vranckx, CCO of Lufthansa Group.

In conclusion

Lufthansa Group is the latest of the big three European airline groups to announce its adoption of Starlink, but it is doing so differently than its competitors. Unlike Air France-KLM or IAG, the project involves all companies and all fleets in the group, ensuring a more consistent travel experience. The rollout will require patience, as it will take several years; once completed, however, it will be a gold standard for in-flight connectivity in Europe.

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