Korean Air, Asiana roll out free Starlink Wi-Fi for in-flight streaming

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines said Friday they will begin offering free Starlink-based in-flight Wi-Fi on some flights. The service uses Starlink's low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, allowing passengers to enjoy a range of digital experiences on board.

The service officially launches Tuesday and will be rolled out first on mid- to large-size aircraft. Korean Air plans to offer the service on four retrofitted planes to start — three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER. These aircraft will be deployed mainly on long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia, with some also flying short-haul routes. Korean Air aims to extend the service to most of its operating fleet by the end of 2027.

The new Starlink-based in-flight Wi-Fi will be free for passengers in every seat class. Connecting is simple: passengers switch their phone or other device to airplane mode and connect to the in-flight network. They then go to Korean Air's in-flight Wi-Fi portal, enter the name and seat number listed on their boarding pass, and watch an advertisement to complete the connection. No separate sign-up is required.

In-flight Wi-Fi speeds will also be markedly faster than before, letting passengers stream on OTT platforms, watch videos and listen to music. Online gaming, web browsing, news viewing and instant messaging will also run reliably, while file transfers and cloud-based collaboration tools will work at speeds close to those on the ground.

However, internet-based voice and video calls and live social media streaming will remain restricted under airline policy. Korean Air said this is not a technical limitation but a measure to maintain a comfortable cabin environment and ensure flight security. Access to insecure or illegal websites may also be blocked. Aircraft that have not yet been retrofitted will temporarily continue to operate under the airline's existing paid in-flight Wi-Fi policy.

Korean Air's upgraded in-flight Wi-Fi service is part of its plan to offer customers an improved travel experience in line with the launch of the merged carrier. This marks the first time a major East Asian full-service carrier has adopted the Starlink system.

Korean Air said it will push to offer faster, free in-flight Wi-Fi to more passengers following the launch of the merged carrier in December. It also plans to continue rolling out a range of services aimed at boosting customer satisfaction.

Asiana Airlines will also roll out in-flight Wi-Fi service in stages starting Tuesday. It will first be offered on nine Airbus A350-900s and one A330-300, aircraft that are mainly deployed on long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia. Asiana plans to expand the service sequentially across its fleet, starting with its remaining A350-900 and A330-300 aircraft.

"We are doing our utmost on equipment installation and upgrades so that customers can enjoy unrestricted, high-speed internet service for free even in the sky," an Asiana Airlines official said. "Through the introduction of Starlink service, we plan to offer differentiated service in line with the launch of the merged carrier."