Fast, free wi-fi on a plane is an aspiration for long-distance flights, but mostly an elusive dream. On May 26, Virgin Atlantic hosted a concert by British group The Sugababes, whose songs and Q&A were live-streamed from the air. Here’s why this is important for fast Wi-Fi lovers everywhere.
Gigabit In The Clouds
Starlink’s arrival on board has proved transformational for many passengers, promising fast connectivity from gate to gate, and without the $30-or-more cost routinely charged by some airlines.
I’m not sure which is more important, the prospect of not spending part of the flight fuming because the expensive Wi-Fi is either working at a snail’s pace or not at all, or the absence of the dreaded announcement, “We’ll be turning the Wi-Fi off shortly.”
The intention of suppliers like Starlink is that Wi-Fi is as fast and reliable in the air as it is on the ground, even when flying over oceans or remote regions. The Aero Terminal can support up to 1Gbps per antenna, Starlink says.
British Airways was the first U.K. carrier to install Starlink on board, though Virgin Atlantic, which began its roll-out later, has now completed it for one plane, the Airbus A350.
Accelerated Fleet Turnaround And Installation Timelines
“Virgin Atlantic said yesterday that by the end of the A350 process it had got installation time down to eight hours,” Head for Points reported, making it “five months ahead of the original schedule.”
Virgin Atlantic has 12 A350s in its fleet, and the Boeing 787 planes will follow in the second half of 2026, with the A330neo set for completion in 2027, the airline said.
Experiential Aviation
Virgin Atlantic has often done things differently from other airlines: not that many years ago, there was an onboard masseuse to massage away the stresses of flying, and a bar with inflight cocktail bar staff.
So, the live concert seems like a fit. The low latency offered by the Wi-Fi meant that the concert allowed fans to interact in real-time during the event.
Finally, Starlink’s system is democratic, promising the same speeds in every cabin on board.