For the first time, SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service is coming to an airline carrier.
Jet service provider JSX announced today it had selected Starlink as its in-flight Wi-Fi provider.
“With travelers eagerly demanding better inflight Wi-Fi offerings, JSX has placed an order to begin outfitting 100 aircraft operating across the United States with this cutting-edge new technology,” the company said.
JSX plans on offering the Starlink Wi-Fi connectivity sometime later this year at no additional charge for passengers. The Wi-Fi experience also promises to be similar to the high-speed broadband consumers receive at home, according to SpaceX VP for Starlink Commercial Sales Jonathan Hofeller.
“We are creating a future that when all customers walk on to the plane, the internet just works —no hassles, no logins,” he added. “By being the first air carrier to adopt Starlink, JSX is setting this new standard for air travel.”
However, JSX isn’t a major name in the airline industry. The company describes itself as a “hop-on jet service,” and currently offers flights in 13 cities in the US, mainly in the California, Nevada, Arizona area.
Still, it may only be a matter of time before other carriers adopt Starlink. This week, Delta’s CEO told The Wall Street Journal it had already begun “exploratory tests” using Starlink for in-flight internet. The satellite broadband service can currently deliver download speeds between 50Mbps to 150Mbps to users on the ground.
To bring Starlink to JSX, the companies plan on certifying and testing the satellite internet equipment necessary to outfit the carrier’s fleet. However, the partnership will require FCC approval permitting Starlink’s official use on planes, according to CNBC.