British Airways owner IAG SA is exploring options to upgrade its in-flight Wi-Fi, and SpaceX’s Starlink is in the running. The airline group, which also owns Iberia and Aer Lingus, is in talks with both Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper to potentially bring satellite internet services to its passengers.
According to Annalisa Gigante, IAG’s head of innovation, the airline group is considering various providers to ensure the best service for passengers. “We are working a lot, both with Starlink and with Amazon’s Kuiper. We’ve got some really exciting things coming up, but that’s going to be for next year,” she said in an interview with Bloomberg.
Traditional satellite providers, such as Viasat, have long dominated the market, but SpaceX has disrupted the status quo. Starlink offers faster, more reliable internet access that rivals ground-based experiences. This has already attracted deals from airlines like United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, and many more.
Despite Starlink’s rapid expansion in the United States, European carriers face additional hurdles. Gigante pointed out that while US airlines can easily adopt Starlink, European carriers must undergo a more complex certification process. For IAG, British Airways would require separate certification from Iberia and Aer Lingus, potentially slowing implementation.
“There has been an announcement frenzy,” Gigante noted. “I really want to make sure that when we announce it, we can actually implement it.”
Starlink has faced scrutiny over certification claims. When asked about IAG’s remarks, a SpaceX spokesperson denied the accuracy of the statements but did not provide further details.
Although IAG SA says Amazon’s Project Kuiper is in the running, it is hard to see how they will be able to win over company executives to pick them as their in-flight Wi-Fi partner. Kuiper only plans to launch its first operational satellites early next year, and aims to begin providing services by the end of 2025.
