British Airways Halts Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout Until October

The delay in British Airways' Starlink rollout impacts its ability to offer competitive in-flight connectivity, potentially affecting passenger experience and operational efficiency. While Starlink's faster installation time is a selling point for other airlines, BA's fleet management issues highlight a broader challenge in balancing ambitious upgrade schedules with operational demands. The situation underscores the need for airlines to not only adopt new technologies but also manage the logistical complexities of integration, with fleet availability being a critical bottleneck to watch.

The pause in British Airways' Starlink rollout contrasts with recent accelerated adoption by other major carriers. American Airlines announced on May 26, 2026, its selection of Starlink for its Airbus fleet, covering nearly 500 narrow-body aircraft, with installations beginning in Q1 2027 (Aviation Week, TechCrunch). This follows similar moves by United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. Meanwhile, Korean Air confirmed on June 5, 2026, its plan to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi, starting with long-haul aircraft in the second half of 2026 and expanding to its entire fleet, including affiliated airlines like Asiana, by the end of 2027 (BusinessKorea). Delta Air Lines, however, opted for Amazon Leo for an initial 500 aircraft, signaling a multi-supplier approach to in-flight connectivity (Aviation Week, May 2026). Viasat, a traditional GEO satellite provider, has argued that while LEO systems offer lower latency, GEO still holds advantages for high-volume streaming due to its ability to concentrate capacity over high-demand areas. Viasat is also developing multi-orbit solutions with its new Aera phased-array antenna, designed to integrate both GEO and LEO networks (Aerospace Global News, May 2026).