Key facts
- El Al Israel Airlines will install Starlink internet on its fleet starting in 2027.
El Al Israel Airlines has signed a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink to provide high-speed internet across its fleet starting in 2027. The service will be offered free of charge to passengers.
The agreement enhances El Al's passenger experience by offering free high-speed internet, a key differentiator in the competitive airline industry. It also signifies Starlink's growing expansion into the aviation sector.
El Al Israel Airlines has signed a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink to make high-speed internet available across its fleet starting in 2027. The service will be offered free of additional charge to passengers, allowing hundreds to connect simultaneously, including on long-haul flights. This move aims to attract premium customers, as fast in-flight Wi-Fi becomes an increasingly important perk. Starlink, which operates a significant portion of satellites in orbit, is a major revenue driver for SpaceX and faces competition from Amazon. El Al's CEO, Levy Halevy, highlighted the integration as a significant step forward for passenger connectivity, enabling live streaming and uninterrupted work. The airline operates a relatively new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and has ordered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Starlink's service in Israel offers download speeds of 150-250 Mbps and upload speeds of 10-30 Mbps, with latency between 20-40 milliseconds.