Starlink has quietly introduced a major change to how its satellite internet service can be used in small planes, a move that is drawing criticism from many general aviation pilots who relied on the service for affordable in-flight connectivity.
According to new details shared with customers, Starlink’s standard Roam and Priority plans are now limited to in-motion speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h, or 87 knots). That threshold is far below the cruising speed of even small piston aircraft, effectively preventing most airplanes from using the lower-cost plans while in flight.
At the same time, Starlink has introduced two new aviation-specific tiers designed for higher speeds, but they come with significantly higher monthly costs and much lower included data allowances.
Under the new structure, pilots who want internet connectivity while flying faster than 100 mph must subscribe to one of two dedicated aviation plans.
Aviation 300MPH
- US$250 per month
- 20 GB of included data
- Supports speeds up to 300 mph (482 km/h)
- Additional data costs US$10 per GB
Aviation 450MPH
- US$1,000 per month
- 20 GB of included data
- Supports speeds up to 450 mph (724 km/h)
- Additional data costs US$50 per GB
The change is a significant shift compared to how many pilots were previously using the service. Some operators had been using standard Starlink Roam plans costing US$50 per month with around 100 GB of data, making the system an affordable way to access weather information, flight planning tools, and messaging apps in the cockpit.
With the new pricing, a similar level of functionality could now cost five to twenty times more, depending on the plan selected and the amount of data consumed.
Backlash From Pilots
The update has sparked frustration across aviation forums and social media, where many small aircraft owners say the change removes a valuable safety and planning tool from the cockpit.
One pilot summarized the sentiment in a widely shared post, writing on X, “Their plans just went up 5X in price overnight, and the data included went from 100GB to 20GB. Starlink was a complete game-changer for being connected from a small plane.”
For many pilots flying piston aircraft that cruise between 120 mph and 200 mph (190–320 km/h), the new 100 mph cap effectively disables the lower-cost plans immediately after takeoff.
Connectivity in flight had allowed pilots to access higher-resolution weather radar, icing forecasts, turbulence data, and other tools that can improve situational awareness during long cross-country flights.
While the number of small aircraft using Starlink is relatively small compared to residential customers, the service had been gaining popularity among pilots thanks to its portable Starlink Mini hardware and flexible month-to-month subscriptions.
For now, pilots who want to stay connected in flight will need to choose one of the new aviation tiers—or turn to older alternatives like satellite weather services and traditional aviation data systems.
