Delta CEO Says Airline Is Testing SpaceX Starlink Internet in Flights

Any change is an improvement.

Inflight Starlink

Right now, getting online on a flight is not only extremely expensive but also clunky and slow.

But thanks to SpaceX's satellite-based broadband internet service Starlink, that might soon start to change.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian revealed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal this week that the airline is looking to add Starlink connectivity to its commercial flights, and has already conducted testing — a big deal, potentially, for SpaceX and also anyone who flies.

Fast and Free

Bastian has long maintained that WiFi on board flights should be not only reliable and fast, but free as well. Today's reality is a far shot from that, though, with spotty connectivity being provided at substantial costs.

Only JetBlue offers free high speed WiFi in the US as of right now, according to The Points Guy.

The news comes after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed last year that the space company is focusing on 737 and A320 aircraft "as those serve the most number of people."

SpaceX has also already received permission from the Federal Communications Commission to test Starlink hardware on aircraft, according to tk.

There's no indication of how long it'll take for Starlink internet to be implemented on commercial flights, but considering the success SpaceX has seen in bringing considerable internet speeds to rural parts of the world, it's likely to improve on an otherwise lackluster experience.

READ MORE: Delta Air Lines Tested SpaceX’s Starlink Internet for Planes, Delta CEO Says [The Wall Street Journal]

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