Airlines are competing aggressively to offer faster and free in flight internet. In the U.S., American and United are racing to match Delta’s free Wi-Fi for frequent flyer members.

Air Canada is installing Wi-Fi across its entire fleet and offering it free to Aeroplan members. Overseas, Qatar Airways now provides Starlink connectivity to all passengers, enabling streaming speeds.

Emirates plans to roll out free Starlink service across its 230 plane fleet by mid 2027, allowing passengers to stream, game and make video calls, while airlines grapple with maintaining quiet cabins.