Just weeks after installing Starlink transceivers on board one of its Airbus A220-300s, airBaltic received certification from European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), becoming the first airline in Europe to offer the service commercially.
To celebrate the launch, the Latvian carrier flew around the country bringing together key stakeholders, international and local media representatives, and influencers to experience Starlink’s capabilities firsthand.
President and CEO of airBaltic: “This is a historic milestone for airBaltic and a game-changer for European air travel. By becoming the first European airline to integrate SpaceX’s Starlink, we are redefining what connectivity in the skies means. This is not just an improvement, it is a revolution in air travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront, delivering the future of connectivity to our passengers already today.”
Now available on YL-CSL, customers will have access to high speed Starlink Wi-Fi from February 21, 2025. They expects to outfit 25 of its A220s by the end of summer, offering the service fleet-wide by the end of 2025.
Like many other carriers, airBaltic is will offer Starlink free of charge (or part of the ticket price depending on how you want to look at it), and will make it available from gate to gate without a capture portal.
Download speed tests on other carriers usually range from 100 to 300 Mbps, and it seems to be the case once again as one airBaltic passenger was able to download at just over 200 Mbps.
airBaltic’s aircraft are configured to support up to 500 Mbps download per aircraft, which means speeds will normalize over time, with those numbers set to increase over time once Starlink opens up more capacity on its satellite network.
So far three airlines including Hawaiian, Qatar and JSX offer Starlink service, with many more expected to launch the service over the next few years.
Featured image: airBaltic
