It took a while, but Hawaiian Airlines is starting to offer Starlink access on select flights.

After originally announcing a partnership with SpaceX back in April 2022, the airline officially debuted the satellite internet on a Thursday flight from Honolulu to Long Beach. Passengers got free access through the on-board Wi-Fi system. 

Hawaiian Airlines says it's the first major airline to offer Starlink access, although others—such as Qatar Airlines—are preparing to adopt the technology, too. Meanwhile, regional carrier JSX has been offering Starlink access for over the past year.

For now, Hawaiian Airlines will offer the free Starlink connectivity on select Airbus A321 neo jets, before expanding to more flights. “The carrier expects to install and activate antennas on all its 18 A321neo aircraft by spring, followed by its A330s by the end of the year, and later its new flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9,” the company says.

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(Credit: Hawaiian Airlines)

The Starlink access promises faster speeds over conventional in-flight Wi-Fi. Last year, we tried the Starlink offering on a JSX jet and experienced download speeds that averaged 126Mbps.  

In Hawaiian Airlines’ case, the company has been taking its time to properly install and test the Starlink equipment. This has involved physically installing the required satellite dish on top of the jets. In addition, the company had to receive clearance from the FAA. 

“During these tests, employees streamed shows and movies, played video games with friends, downloaded and uploaded large files, worked in real time, and scrolled on social media,” says Hawaiian Airlines senior director of engineering Chris Liebertz. “Each assessment then allowed us to fine-tune the service to the high-performance level for which Starlink is known.”

According to SpaceX, Starlink has already been used on 30,000 flights. Over 80 aircraft currently have the satellite internet system installed. Another 400 aircraft, including those from six commercial airlines, are on contract to receive the technology as well.