- Aer Lingus has equipped all Shannon transatlantic flights with Starlink, delivering 500+ Mbps speeds
- 85pc of passengers connect during flights, using 425GB of data on average per journey
- Starlink-enabled aircraft score 27 points higher in customer feedback on connectivity
- Sport 24 live sports channel has been introduced to complement the high-speed service
- Full long-haul fleet equipping remains on track for completion by end of 2026
Aer Lingus has been accelerating the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across its long-haul fleet as passengers embrace the free, high-speed connectivity to stream, work and game onboard at 35,000 feet. The airline introduced Starlink on its first Airbus A330 EI-EIN in March 2026 and has since equipped all transatlantic flights to and from Shannon Airport with the technology. Starlink delivers download speeds of up to 500+ Mbps through a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, which allows customers to seamlessly stream content, work remotely, shop online and use multiple devices while flying. The airline has also introduced IMG’s inflight 24/7 live sports channel Sport 24, which enables customers to watch football leagues, world cups, golf majors, tennis grand slams and American sports as the summer of sport continues.
The customer response to Starlink since its introduction in March has proven overwhelmingly positive. Aer Lingus’ Starlink-enabled aircraft are tracking 27 points higher than the rest of the fleet in customer feedback on connectivity, with 85pc of passengers connecting during each flight on average, often on multiple devices. Customers on Starlink-enabled flights use an average of 425GB of data per journey, enough to stream more than 140 hours of HD content, and on some flights customers have collectively used up to 950GB of data, enough to stream more than 300 hours of HD content while crossing the Atlantic. In response to this positive feedback, Aer Lingus has been progressing its Starlink rollout programme throughout the summer and expects 100pc of the long-haul fleet to be equipped by the end of 2026.
The airline’s maintenance and engineering teams in its Hangar 6 facility at Dublin Airport have been carrying out the Starlink installations. Aer Lingus has confirmed that the technology has been transformative for the inflight experience, with passengers now able to access free broadband at 35,000 feet at speeds that rival or exceed those they enjoy on the ground. The airline’s accelerated rollout programme represents a significant investment in the passenger experience as connectivity becomes an increasingly important factor for travellers across business, leisure and visiting friends and family segments.
Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer at Aer Lingus, shared: The response from our customers since launching Starlink has been exceptionally positive. It’s clear that staying connected while travelling matters to them, whether flying for business, leisure or to visit friends and family.
