Lufthansa this week became an official provider of on-board Starlink wireless internet.
On Wednesday, the first Lufthansa Group aircraft equipped with Starlink – an Airbus A320neo registered as D-AINM – flew from Frankfurt to Rome.
Lufthansa Airlines CEO Jens Ritter was on board the flight and activated the Starlink system at an altitude of around 10,000 meters, or roughly 32,800 feet.
“We are investing more than ever in our guests: in new aircraft, new services, greater choice on board, and, of course, state-of-the-art and innovative technology,” Ritter said in a news release. “With Starlink, we will offer the fastest connectivity from take-off to landing, over oceans and deserts, and on short- and long-haul routes… The introduction of this service marks another milestone in the modernization of Lufthansa.”
Lufthansa said it will install Starlink antennas on another 10 Lufthansa mainline and Lufthansa City Airlines jets by the end of the year. Most of the installation work is taking place at Lufthansa Technik in Berlin.
In 2027, installations will expand across Lufthansa Group’s numerous subsidiaries, including SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways. The company has said that all of its approximately 850 aircraft should be outfitted with Starlink by 2029.
Lufthansa has made the service free for all members of its frequent flyer and Travel ID programs.
