easyJet to fit Starlink across entire fleet from 2027

By Amara Osei

easyJet’s deal with SpaceX covers Starlink installations across every A320, A320neo and A321neo aircraft, with rollout expected in 2027 and completion in early 2028.

The October 26, 2026 agreement makes Europe’s low-cost airline easyJet the 50th airline to select Starlink for in-flight broadband. easyJet said it had finalised talks with SpaceX to equip all its aircraft, although it disclosed no contract value, installation cost or number of aircraft involved. This is a committed programme, not a service already flying.

The scope is equally notable. easyJet has not published the number of terminals or the capital cost of fitting them. The fleet commitment is firm; its scale remains unpublished.

What changed since January?

In January, easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis confirmed that the airline was in talks with SpaceX, but said the financial terms were not favourable. He also said easyJet was discussing Wi-Fi with other providers and would add the service when the time was right. The final deal does not explain what changed in those terms, which is rather the central commercial question.

easyJet now plans to fit Starlink across all A320, A320neo and A321neo aircraft. The operator expects the rollout to begin in 2027 and finish by early 2028, making internet access a standard feature on many easyJet flights. That timetable is concrete, although the announcement leaves several operating details unstated.

The announcement offers no interim pilot or first-year installation target, only the 2027 start and early 2028 finish. For easyJet, this is a broad deployment decision rather than a limited trial with published service results.

Jarvis said this would be easyJet’s first use of Starlink onboard. It provides no expected throughput, service coverage or aircraft-by-aircraft installation dates.

What are passengers promised?

Kenton Jarvis said: “Staying connected matters more than ever to many of our customers.” He cited holidaymakers seeking in-flight entertainment and business customers following events on the ground.

He also said the first introduction of Starlink would give business and leisure travellers more choice, describing it as high-speed connectivity for millions of customers. Jarvis framed the move as part of easyJet’s innovation effort. The announcement offers no forecast for uptake, revenue or passenger satisfaction, leaving that value proposition as management’s claim rather than measured evidence.

How will easyJet charge for it?

easyJet has not said how it will price onboard internet or whether it will offer complimentary access. Across the airline industry, some carriers provide free Wi-Fi to all passengers, while others charge based on flight duration, speed or usage levels.

The fleet decision and installation timetable are settled for now. Pricing will determine whether Starlink feels like a standard amenity or another separately billed service.

The announcement is specific about calendar and quiet about economics. It settles the fleet families, first installation year and target completion window, while leaving price, free access, throughput and programme scale unstated. The rollout is concrete; the passenger business case remains provisional.

What is proven, and what is promised?

SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said Starlink would transform how easyJet customers stay connected throughout their travels. She added: “Fast, reliable connectivity from take-off to landing means people can work, stream or stay in touch without interruption.”

That reliability claim is a vendor promise, not a result from a completed easyJet installation. The rollout can set a schedule; only flown aircraft can set a service record. easyJet still needs to demonstrate speed, reliability and customer uptake once the first fitted aircraft enter service.

Until installations and pricing emerge, the announcement delivers a clear fleet commitment but an unfinished customer offer. If the 2027 rollout starts on schedule and finishes in early 2028, the first fitted aircraft will test the promise, while easyJet’s charging policy will decide whether Starlink reads as a standard amenity or a separate purchase.