Key facts
- El Al Israel Airlines will install Starlink internet on its fleet starting in 2027.
- The service will be provided free of charge to passengers.
- Starlink's high-speed internet will be available on long-haul and European flights.
- El Al's CEO stated the integration allows passengers to stay connected, stream live, and work without interruption.
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.