A new agreement with Starlink will see Lufthansa Group roll out high-speed WiFi across its member airlines.
Lufthansa Group becomes the largest airline group in Europe to strike a deal with the low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite company, whose roster of aviation partners also includes International Airlines Group (IAG). Once installation is complete, passengers across all travel classes will benefit from free, high-bandwith WiFi that they can use to stream entertainment or work on their personal devices during their journey.
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, said:
In our anniversary year, in which we are celebrating Lufthansa’s 100th birthday, we have decided to introduce a new high-speed internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group is taking the next step and setting an essential milestone for the premium travel experience of our customers. Connectivity on board plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers.
Lufthansa Group’s stable of airlines includes some of the biggest carriers in Europe. Around 850 aircraft from Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, and SWISS will undergo upgrades for Starlink compatability. Smaller airlines in the roster, such as Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss Air, and Discover Airlines, are also in line to receive the upgrade. The new WiFi service will debut later this year, with the Group stating that the entire fleet will be Starlink-equipped by 2029.
Internet connectivity is becoming a key differentiator in the competitive aviation market. A 2024 survey of 11,000 passengers led by Viasat found that 1 in 3 people believe travelling without WiFi is one of the most frustrating aspects of modern flying, while 22% won’t consider flying long-haul without WiFi access.
The Starlink newss comes a week after Lufthansa Group announced another new partnership with Amadeus for retail modernisation. In September 2025, the Group announced they would cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 as part of a digital-first ‘turnaround’ strategy following several years of underperforming operations.
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