SpaceX's Starlink Initiative Accelerates High-Speed In-Flight Internet, According to Ookla's Evaluations
In a groundbreaking development for the aviation industry, a recent Ookla report from Q1 2025 reveals that airlines using SpaceX's Starlink low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation are leading the way in in-flight Wi-Fi performance.
Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways, two carriers relying on Starlink, have posted impressive median download speeds of an astounding **152.37 Mbps**, upload speeds of **24.16 Mbps**, and an industry-low median latency of **44 milliseconds**. These figures far surpass traditional providers such as Deutsche Telekom, which delivers only **4.14 Mbps** in median download speeds[1][2].
The superior performance of Starlink is attributed to its dense LEO satellite constellation, offering lower latency and higher speeds than geostationary satellites and ground-based LTE networks. This results in a noticeable improvement in the passenger internet experience during flights[1][2][4].
The report also highlights strong showings from Spirit Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, Breeze, American, and Aeromexico, all of which posted 10th percentile download speeds above 10 Mbps[3]. Other major airlines, such as American and Delta, are diversifying with providers like Viasat, Intelsat, and Hughes[3].
However, Lufthansa underperforms due to its heavy reliance on Deutsche Telekom's LTE-based offering for in-flight Wi-Fi. The report does not provide specific details about the speeds delivered by other satellite internet service providers[1][2].
Canada's WestJet is in the process of deploying Starlink across its fleet, and Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways have the best in-flight Wi-Fi performance among global carriers[1][2]. Air Canada has partnered with Starlink rival Eutelsat for in-flight Wi-Fi[3].
The demand for seamless, gate-to-gate connectivity is growing, and the network intelligence company, Ookla, stated that Starlink's low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation drives performance for leading airline Wi-Fi[1]. The report indicates that airlines using Starlink lead in both download speed and latency, based on Speedtest data collected in Q1 2025[1][2].
Starlink has set a new standard for in-flight Wi-Fi performance, and the rest of the industry is playing catch-up. With new LEO entrants like Amazon's Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile on the horizon, the competition in the in-flight connectivity market is set to intensify[3].
References: [1] Ookla (2025). Q1 2025 Speedtest Global Airplane Report. Retrieved from https://www.speedtest.net/insights/2025-Q1-Global-Airplane-Report/ [2] Ookla (2025). Q1 2025 Speedtest Global Airplane Report – Methodology. Retrieved from https://www.speedtest.net/insights/2025-Q1-Global-Airplane-Report-Methodology/ [3] Ookla (2025). Q1 2025 Speedtest Global Airplane Report – Summary. Retrieved from https://www.speedtest.net/insights/2025-Q1-Global-Airplane-Report-Summary/ [4] SpaceX (2023). Starlink for Aviation. Retrieved from https://www.starlink.com/aviation
The impressive achievement in aviation by Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways, using SpaceX's Starlink, has been recognized in the Q1 2025 Ookla report, placing them at the forefront of the industry in terms of in-flight Wi-Fi performance. This remarkable feat is attributed to the technology behind Starlink's low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, offering significant enhancements in speed, latency, and performance over traditional providers and ground-based networks, thereby revolutionizing the passenger internet experience during flights.
