Lufthansa Group is set to introduce what it describes as the fastest inflight internet currently available to passengers, with a Lufthansa A320neo due to become the first aircraft to offer the new service on August 19.
The new Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi, powered by Starlink, will use low-Earth-orbit satellite technology to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity capable of supporting video streaming, cloud-based work and other bandwidth-intensive applications. The group says speeds can, in many cases, exceed those of passengers’ home or office connections.
For business travellers, the service is intended to make it easier to work while airborne, with connectivity capable of supporting cloud-based applications and multiple devices. It will be free for Miles & More customers and Travel ID users across all travel classes.
Starlink will equip approximately 850 aircraft across Lufthansa Group’s airlines, with the technology scheduled to be rolled out across the fleet by 2029. Alongside Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Discover Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines and Eurowings are preparing to introduce the service.
The service will also be available to other passengers for web browsing under common terms of use. These include requirements to use headphones for audio and video content, while voice and video calls and live streaming are prohibited.
The Wi-Fi service is sponsored by Mastercard, which was also a partner of Lufthansa’s previous FlyNet service.
Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, said connectivity had become an integral part of the travel experience. “Our product promise doesn’t end with the seats or the menu – today, connectivity is also an integral part of a truly outstanding onboard experience,” he said.
Starlink takes off
Lufthansa Group is the latest in a growing number of airlines investing in Starlink as high-speed onboard connectivity moves closer to becoming a standard expectation for travellers. United Airlines has already equipped more than 400 aircraft and is targeting almost 1,000 by the end of 2026, while Virgin Atlantic is accelerating its fleet-wide rollout.
In Europe, British Airways, Iberia and Wizz Air are also rolling out or preparing to introduce the technology. BA plans to equip its fleet of more than 300 aircraft within two years, while Iberia’s Starlink service is already available free across all cabins and Wizz Air is due to begin its rollout in 2027.
The first Lufthansa Group aircraft featuring the new Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi powered by Starlink will take off on August 19 2026.
