WestJet has quietly flipped the switch on Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi. While the airline hasn’t made a formal announcement yet, sources with knowledge of the rollout confirm with Drive Tesla that 16 aircraft are now offering Starlink-powered Wi-Fi, following regulatory approval from Transport Canada earlier this month.
WestJet first announced in July 2024 a partnership with SpaceX and Telus to bring Starlink satellite connectivity to its fleet. At the time, the airline said it hoped to equip its airplanes with Starlink before the end of 2024, however that timeline came and went with no further announcements from WestJet.
However, we have learned the company was installing Starlink behind the scenes, in preparations for receiving Transport Canada approval to activate the system. That green light was finally granted in early March, clearing the way for WestJet to begin offering Starlink connectivity to passengers.
According to our source, WestJet has already completed installations of Starlink hardware on 20 aircraft, part of a phased rollout expected to expand significantly over the coming months. Currently, 16 of the 20 outfitted aircraft have been fully activated and are delivering the promised high-speed experience to travelers on select routes.
While WestJet has yet to formally unveil the service, one passenger has already taken to social media to report impressively fast Wi-Fi speeds at cruising altitude. Over the weekend X user Joe Macek shared that the in-flight Wi-Fi on his flight from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale, Florida had Starlink Wi-Fi, despite their being no indication it was powered by Starlink.
Macek also shared a speed test, confirming it was indeed Starlink, and showed the service giving download speeds of 117 Mbps and upload speeds of 26.1 Mpbs, which Macek called “seriously life changing.”
@starlink in the air with @WestJet new connection…
— Joe Macek (@joeamacek) March 15, 2025
Video of connection speeds.@elonmusk @WholeMarsBlog @MattPocius2 pic.twitter.com/dMzD6j9OHQ
Unlike traditional satellite systems, which rely on geostationary satellites thousands of kilometers above Earth, Starlink operates a constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. This allows for dramatically reduced latency and faster data transfer — a major leap forward for in-flight connectivity, which has historically been slow, expensive, and unreliable.
Telus is playing a key role in supporting WestJet’s Starlink deployment, offering ground-based infrastructure and network support for the airline’s Canadian operations. The telecom provider is also a Starlink distribution partner in Canada and has previously integrated the satellite service in rural and remote communities.
With this quiet but significant milestone, WestJet becomes the first Canadian airline to bring Starlink connectivity to its passengers. As the rollout expands, passengers can expect smoother streaming, faster uploads, and a more connected flying experience — a welcome upgrade for travelers across the country.
