--- title: "Airline Wi-Fi guide: providers, Starlink and how to connect · Kilobat" url: "https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi" description: "Look up airline Wi-Fi, Starlink rollouts and providers. Check aircraft qualifications, connection details and the latest airline announcements." --- The in-flight Wi-Fi guide # Know your airline’s Wi-Fi before you fly. Find the providers, equipment and latest updates behind your airline’s connection. From the airlines ## Latest connectivity updates Published announcements, reviewed on the dates shown. Availability can change. Delta Air Lines Published 20 October 2026 · Rollout update · Delta Sync Wi-Fi ### [Delta extends free Wi-Fi across its Asia-Pacific routes](https://news.delta.com/delta-expands-wi-fi-across-asia-pacific-routes-completing-global-connectivity-map) Delta announced free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on its Asia-Pacific routes. It said remaining regional jets and Boeing 717 aircraft were expected to receive connectivity by early 2027. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/delta-air-lines) United Airlines Published 20 October 2026 · Rollout update · Starlink ### [United reports Starlink on more than 640 aircraft](https://ir.united.com/static-files/75da4193-0a15-4071-9f12-b96bd60a5fea) United reported that Starlink was available on about half of its flights, including regional flights. Its installation program continues. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/united-airlines) KLM Published 8 October 2026 · Announced · Starlink ### [KLM plans Starlink on intercontinental flights](https://news.klm.com/free-high-speed-wi-fi-on-klm-intercontinental-flights/) KLM selected Starlink for a phased intercontinental rollout starting in mid-2027. The announcement does not mean Starlink is already available on those aircraft. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/klm) **More updates** Korean Air Published 11 September 2026 · Announced · Starlink ### [Korean Air sets a date for its first Starlink service](https://news.koreanair.com/%EB%8C%80%ED%95%9C%ED%95%AD%EA%B3%B5-9%EC%9B%94-15%EC%9D%BC%EB%B6%80%ED%84%B0-%EC%8A%A4%ED%83%80%EB%A7%81%ED%81%AC-%EA%B8%B0%EB%82%B4-%EC%99%80%EC%9D%B4%ED%8C%8C%EC%9D%B4-%EC%84%9C/) Korean Air said free Starlink service would begin on selected flights on 15 September, initially using four equipped aircraft. The September announcement described a gradual fleet rollout. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/korean-air) Qatar Airways Published 20 August 2026 · Rollout update · Starlink ### [Qatar Airways reports 150 Starlink-equipped widebodies](https://www.qatarairways.com/press-releases/en-WW/269475-qatar-airways-150-starlink-equipped-widebody-aircraft-now-include-world-s-first-starlink-equipped-boeing-787-9/) Qatar Airways reported that its Boeing 787-8 retrofit was complete and its first equipped 787-9 had entered service. The airline still expected the remaining 787 rollout to finish by the end of 2026. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/qatar-airways) Lufthansa Published 19 August 2026 · First service · Starlink ### [Lufthansa operates its first Starlink-equipped flight](https://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/en/lufthansa-takes-off-with-starlink-high-speed-internet-for-the-first-time/) Lufthansa's first equipped A320neo flew from Frankfurt to Rome. The airline planned to equip additional A320-family aircraft during 2026. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/lufthansa) American Airlines Published 26 May 2026 · Announced · Starlink ### [American plans Starlink installation on more than 500 aircraft](https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2026/American-to-install-Starlink-the-fastest-Wi-Fi-in-the-sky-MKG-OB-05/) American announced plans to begin fitting Starlink to more than 500 narrowbody aircraft in the first quarter of 2027. This is a future installation plan. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/american-airlines) Delta Air Lines Published 31 March 2026 · Announced · Amazon Leo ### [Delta announces plans for Amazon Leo](https://news.delta.com/delta-amazon-leo-sign-agreement-deliver-next-era-connected-travel-and-digital-experiences) Delta and Amazon announced an agreement for Leo connectivity, with an initial 500 aircraft installations planned to begin in 2028. The announcement does not describe current Leo-equipped Delta flights. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/delta-air-lines) British Airways Published 19 March 2026 · First service · Starlink ### [British Airways launches its first Starlink flight](https://mediacentre.britishairways.com/news/19032026/british-airways-first-starlink-flight-takes-off-making-the-airline-the-first-in-the-uk-to-launch-the-fastest-wi-fi-in-the-sky) British Airways said a Starlink-equipped Boeing 787-8 operated its first flight to Houston. The airline planned a gradual wider rollout, excluding BA Cityflyer. Reviewed 2 November 2026 [View airline guide →](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/british-airways) ## Browse the guides ### Wi-Fi providers - [Viasat](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/viasat): GEO satellite - [Panasonic Avionics](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/panasonic-avionics): GEO satellite, LEO satellite - [SES](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/intelsat): GEO satellite, LEO satellite - [Starlink](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/starlink-aviation): LEO satellite - [Gogo Business Aviation](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/gogo-business-aviation): Air-to-ground, LEO satellite, GEO satellite - [Anuvu](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/anuvu): GEO satellite - [European Aviation Network](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/european-aviation-network): GEO satellite, Air-to-ground ### Airlines: United States - [Alaska Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/alaska-airlines): **Alaska Airlines** - [American Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/american-airlines): **American Airlines** - [Delta Air Lines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/delta-air-lines): **Delta Air Lines** - [Hawaiian Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/hawaiian-airlines): **Hawaiian Airlines** - [JetBlue](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/jetblue): **JetBlue** - [Southwest Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/southwest-airlines): **Southwest Airlines** - [United Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/united-airlines): **United Airlines** ### Airlines: Canada - [Air Canada](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/air-canada): **Air Canada** - [WestJet](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/westjet): **WestJet** ### Airlines: Europe - [Air France](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/air-france): **Air France** - [British Airways](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/british-airways): **British Airways** - [KLM](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/klm): **KLM** - [Lufthansa](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/lufthansa): **Lufthansa** - [Turkish Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/turkish-airlines): **Turkish Airlines** - [Virgin Atlantic](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/virgin-atlantic): **Virgin Atlantic** ### Airlines: Middle East - [Emirates](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/emirates): **Emirates** - [Qatar Airways](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/qatar-airways): **Qatar Airways** ### Airlines: Asia-Pacific - [Air New Zealand](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/air-new-zealand): **Air New Zealand** - [ANA (All Nippon Airways)](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/ana): **ANA (All Nippon Airways)** - [Cathay Pacific](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/cathay-pacific): **Cathay Pacific** - [Japan Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/japan-airlines): **Japan Airlines** - [Korean Air](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/korean-air): **Korean Air** - [Qantas](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/qantas): **Qantas** - [Singapore Airlines](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/singapore-airlines): **Singapore Airlines** Logo credits: [selfh.st/icons](https://dashboardicons.com/icons/external/delta-air-lines) ([CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)); [京市](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KLM_crown_logo.svg) ([CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)). ## How plane Wi-Fi reaches the internet. An antenna on the plane talks to towers on the ground or to satellites. Passengers share the aircraft’s connectivity, and the airline’s sign-in page decides who gets on it. Three kinds of link are in use, often more than one in the same fleet. ### Air-to-ground Towers on the ground point up at the plane, like a mobile network turned skywards. Short distance, so little delay, but it only works over land with towers. Europe’s [European Aviation Network](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/european-aviation-network) pairs LTE towers with a satellite. Distance Tens of kilometres Over oceans No ### Geostationary satellite A satellite about 36,000 km above the equator relays the plane’s traffic to a ground station. A request and its answer travel up and down twice, so the [ITU](https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-M.2460-2019-PDF-E.pdf) estimates about 500 ms of round-trip propagation delay. Other network delays add to that. Airline services from [Viasat](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/viasat), [SES (Intelsat)](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/intelsat), [Panasonic](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/panasonic-avionics) and [Anuvu](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/anuvu) use geostationary links on some aircraft. Distance About 36,000 km Propagation delay About 500 ms ### Low-orbit satellite Many satellites hundreds to thousands of kilometres up, each passing overhead in minutes. The shorter distance can reduce propagation delay. [Starlink](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/starlink-aviation) is one system airlines fit; SpaceX quotes 44 ms on United. Distance Hundreds to thousands of km Example 44 ms on United ## Why it’s slow, laggy and capped. Speed tests on a plane often look fine, then pages hang and calls freeze. Here is what you notice, what is usually behind it, and what Kilobat does about it. 1. ### Connected, full bars, nothing loads. The airline’s sign-in page holds every connection until you sign in or pay. A VPN, iCloud Private Relay or your own DNS can keep it from opening. The menu bar says **This Wi-Fi wants you to sign in**, with **Open sign-in page**. Turn the VPN back on once you’re in. Free: 2. ### Every page takes a second to start. On a geostationary satellite, each request goes about 36,000 km up and back down twice. The ITU estimates about 500 ms of round-trip propagation delay; other network delays add to that. Health shows the latency and loss as they happen, so the link isn’t mistaken for a problem with your Mac. Free: 3. ### Fast for ten minutes, then crawling. Everyone on board shares one antenna, and the airline shapes the traffic. Many limit or block streaming, video calls and big downloads. Live upload and download for every app, in the menu bar, so you see which one is taking your share. Free: 4. ### A messaging pass, and the Mac still tries to sync. Messaging plans let only certain chat apps through. iCloud Photos, backups and updaters keep trying, and fail. Mark the network Metered. With automatic switching and updater pausing enabled, Travel limits apps and updaters wait for unmetered Wi-Fi. The network filter must be on. Pro: 5. ### A big upload barely moves. Plane links are slower up than down, and sync apps don’t say how much is left. The menu shows the upload’s speed and what it has sent. **Send later** holds it until you reach unmetered Wi-Fi, for up to eight hours while Kilobat is open. Pro: 6. ### Slack won’t load. The plane, or Slack? Sometimes the service itself is down, wherever you are. [Is it them or me?](https://kilobat.app/is-it-down) reads the service’s own status page and tells you. Free: ## The sign-in page, free messaging and blocked apps. Many airline networks show a sign-in page. That is where you may log in to the loyalty programme, buy a pass or pick a free messaging tier. The rules on the page differ from airline to airline. - **Free for members.** [Delta](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/delta-air-lines), [American](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/american-airlines), [Southwest](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/southwest-airlines), [Alaska](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/alaska-airlines) and [KLM](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/klm) give Wi-Fi free to loyalty members on equipped planes. Joining is free; some airlines let you register on board. - **Messaging only.** Some tiers carry chat apps and nothing else. [Southwest](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/southwest-airlines) requires a free member connection or a purchased connection for iMessage and WhatsApp. [Emirates](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/emirates) sells a chat plan on its older Wi-Fi. - **Streaming and calls.** Older satellite systems often block video and calls. [Air New Zealand](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/air-new-zealand) rules out video and voice calls and cloud storage. Starlink airlines such as [British Airways](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/british-airways) allow streaming. - **VPNs.** Most airlines publish no rule. A VPN can hide the sign-in page, so sign in first and turn it on after. [Delta](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/delta-air-lines) says major VPN apps work; [Cathay Pacific](https://kilobat.app/in-flight-wifi/cathay-pacific) suggests allowing latency over 800 ms. - **Not on every plane.** Fleets mix systems, and some routes have none. Delta has no Wi-Fi over China and Morocco. Check the airline’s page for your aircraft. ## Before you board. The best time to sync is on the ground. Let the big jobs finish at home or at the airport, then pause what would start again on the plane. These are macOS’s own switches. 1 ### Let iCloud Photos finish, or pause it. In Photos, choose **Library** in the sidebar, click **All Photos**, scroll down and click **Pause**. It pauses uploads for a day, when your library allows it. 2 ### Skip the backup. If a Time Machine backup starts, click Time Machine in the menu bar and choose **Skip This Backup**. Cloud backup apps have their own pause. 3 ### Hold macOS updates. In System Settings › General › Software Update, click the info button beside Automatic updates and turn off **Download new updates when available** for the trip. 4 ### Turn on Low Data Mode. Once you join the plane’s Wi-Fi, open System Settings › Wi-Fi › Details and turn on **Low data mode**. Apps decide for themselves whether to respect it. 5 ### Download what you’ll need. Films, playlists, maps and documents load best on the ground. Plane links are shared, and many block streaming. Then let Kilobat catch what you missed. Mark the plane’s network Metered once you’ve joined. With the relevant settings enabled, Travel and paused updaters can reduce background traffic. Use Send later to hold a supported upload for up to eight hours while Kilobat is open. More on [saving data on a metered network](https://kilobat.app/save-hotspot-data). ## One flight, with Kilobat. What Kilobat does from the gate to the hotel. 1. At the gate ### See what is still syncing. The menu bar shows each app’s upload and download live. Photos still uploading? Let it finish on the airport’s Wi-Fi, or pause it. Free: 2. After take-off ### The sign-in page hides. Your VPN kept the airline’s page from opening. Kilobat says **This Wi-Fi wants you to sign in** and opens the page with one click. Free: 3. Signed in ### Mark it metered. One click in Kilobat’s Wi-Fi menu. With automatic switching enabled, Kilobat switches to Travel, so only the apps you chose go online. Paused updaters wait when that setting and the network filter are on. Pro: 4. Mid-flight ### Dropbox starts on a folder of videos. A row shows its speed and what it has sent. **Send later** can hold it for unmetered Wi-Fi, for up to eight hours while Kilobat is open. Pro: 5. Landed ### Back on fast Wi-Fi. If the hold is still active, the upload goes again on unmetered Wi-Fi. Kilobat can tell you it resumed. Your previous profile comes back. Pro: In the terminal ## The same, from the terminal. Everything above works from the Kilobat CLI too, so a script or an AI agent can set up the Mac before a flight. - Mark the plane’s network metered once you’ve joined it. - Open the sign-in page when it doesn’t appear. - Hold a sync app’s upload until you’re on unmetered Wi-Fi. Holding uploads and paused updaters are part of Pro. The CLI itself is free. Terminal ``` # Treat the plane’s Wi-Fi as metered $ kilobat networks cost metered # Open the sign-in page $ kilobat portal open # Hold Dropbox’s upload until unmetered Wi-Fi $ kilobat uploads hold Dropbox --until unmetered # Which updaters are waiting $ kilobat updaters ``` ## What’s free, and what Pro adds ### Free, for good - Spotting the sign-in page, with Open sign-in page - Live upload and download for every app - Marking a network Metered, Unmetered or Automatic - Is it them or me? for over seventy services - Latency and loss in Health, and the CLI ### Pro, $29 once - Travel: only the apps you choose on a metered network - Updaters paused on metered networks - Send later: big uploads wait for unmetered Wi-Fi - Data budgets for capped plans - Latency and outage history, and call reports Pro is $29 once for two Macs, with a 7-day free trial and 14-day refunds. [Free for students](https://kilobat.app/students). ## Questions **Why is plane Wi-Fi so slow?** Passengers share the aircraft’s link, and conditions and demand affect speed. A geostationary satellite is about 36,000 km up. The ITU estimates about 500 ms of round-trip propagation delay, before other network delays. Low-orbit systems can reduce propagation delay; actual latency varies. **Why doesn’t the Wi-Fi sign-in page open on my Mac?** A VPN, iCloud Private Relay or your own DNS can keep the network from sending you to its page. Open `http://captive.apple.com` in Safari, or click Open sign-in page in Kilobat. Turn the VPN on after you’ve signed in. More on the [Wi-Fi login page](https://kilobat.app/hotel-wifi-login-mac). **Can I use a VPN on plane Wi-Fi?** Often yes, once you’ve signed in, but airlines rarely publish a rule, and high latency can make some VPNs give up. Each airline page here says what the airline publishes. **How do I stop my Mac using plane Wi-Fi in the background?** Pause iCloud Photos and Time Machine and turn off automatic update downloads before you board. With Kilobat, mark the network Metered. With automatic switching enabled, Travel lets only the apps you choose online. You can hold supported uploads for up to eight hours while Kilobat is open. **Is Kilobat free?** Spotting the sign-in page, live traffic per app and marking networks metered are free. Travel, paused updaters, Send later and history are part of Kilobat Pro, $29 once with a 7-day free trial. ## Kilobat for… [**Hotel Wi-Fi login**Logged out by the sign-in page, not offline, with a warning before the next time.](https://kilobat.app/hotel-wifi-login-mac)[**Hotspot data**Keep backups and updaters off your phone’s data plan.](https://kilobat.app/save-hotspot-data)[**Digital nomads**Café Wi-Fi, hotspots and captive portals, checked in seconds.](https://kilobat.app/digital-nomads)[**Video calls**A report card after every call that says why it froze.](https://kilobat.app/video-calls) ## Land with your data plan, and your patience, intact. [Download for Mac ↓](https://kilobat.app/downloads/Kilobat-1.31.1.dmg?via=site) ``` brew install seifip/kilobat/kilobat ```