Southwest Airlines will swap a sizable portion of its fleet to the Starlink inflight internet solution. The first aircraft will be installed this summer, and the carrier expects to have 300 planes fitted by the end of the year. The service will remain free for Rapid Rewards members through the transition, in line with all other Starlink installs.
Free WiFi has been a huge hit with our Rapid Rewards Members, and we know our Customers expect seamless connectivity across all their devices when they travel.
– Tony Roach, Executive Vice President, Chief Customer & Brand Officer at Southwest Airlines
The initial deployment will see the carrier quickly replace its Anuvu-fitted aircraft with the Starlink solution. And Southwest also is clear it intends to “upgrade all its aircraft with high-speed, low-Earth-orbit satellite technology.” Whether the Viasat fleet is replaced or add in Telesat Lightspeed LEO capacity – Viasat is a reseller of that service – remains to be seen.
Southwest joins United Airlines, JSX, and Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines as US-based Starlink customers. As with the others, deployment plans are aggressive, aided by the quick installation process of the offering. And Southwest has proven it can make major updates to its fleet quickly on overnight stops. Its interior rearrangement to add extra legroom seats moved incredibly efficiently through the network on a very condensed timeline.
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Seth Miller has over a decade of experience covering the airline industry. With a strong focus on passenger experience, Seth also has deep knowledge of inflight connectivity and loyalty programs. He is widely respected as an unbiased commentator on the aviation industry.
He is frequently consulted on innovations in passenger experience by airlines and technology providers.
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