easyJet plans to begin rolling out Starlink in-flight internet in the first half of 2027, with the service scheduled to reach about 300 aircraft by early 2028. The move puts two of Europe’s three major low-cost carriers on Starlink, while larger rival Ryanair has yet to adopt the service. For airlines, the decision weighs passenger experience against installation costs and potential effects on fuel efficiency.
easyJet and Wizz Air commit to Starlink
easyJet carries about 100 million passengers a year. It expects to introduce Starlink in stages, starting with the first aircraft in the first half of 2027 and aiming to complete installation across its roughly 300-plane fleet by early 2028.
Wizz Air, which carries about 70 million passengers annually, signed up for Starlink in June. That leaves Ryanair as the major European low-cost carrier yet to choose the service. The airline carries more than 200 million passengers a year and is one of Europe’s largest carriers, as well as the world’s third-largest airline.
In-flight connectivity is more than an added amenity. Offering Wi-Fi at no charge could influence how passengers compare airlines, but fitting aircraft with the necessary equipment also brings costs and operational considerations. For low-cost carriers that rely on ancillary fees to manage costs and support profits, investing in a free service is a commercial decision, not a straightforward upgrade.
O’Leary questions demand and installation costs
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said in January that the airline believed passengers would not pay for Wi-Fi on flights averaging just one hour. Starlink service is generally offered to passengers for free, but O’Leary has also argued that terminals mounted on aircraft fuselages could increase drag and fuel costs.
Starlink head Elon Musk responded on X that airlines without connectivity risk losing passengers. The two executives traded insults the following week. Musk called for O’Leary to be fired and joked about buying Ryanair. The airline then turned the dispute into a marketing campaign with its “Big ‘Idiot’ Sale,” offering 100,000 tickets from £16.99, or about $23.
On a January earnings call, O’Leary also said he expected all airlines to offer free Wi-Fi eventually, as the technology improves over the next four to five years. His comments leave room for Ryanair to change course, but the company has not announced plans to adopt Starlink.
US carriers are choosing different providers
US airlines are also taking different approaches. United Airlines has installed Starlink on nearly half its fleet, while American Airlines plans to begin installations early next year. Delta Air Lines has selected Amazon Leo and expects to start deployment in 2028. The varied choices show how airlines are weighing connectivity against operating costs and service positioning.
Market conditions differ: US passengers are generally wealthier and more willing to pay for premium services, while low-cost carriers there have added more comfortable seats and bundled products in recent years. Starlink could give easyJet and Wizz Air a service distinction over Ryanair for now. Whether that affects passenger choices will depend on demand, how each airline offers the service and the costs of installing the equipment.