SQ goes Starlink

[markis10]

Singapore Airlines Selects Starlink To Deliver Next-Generation High-Speed In-Flight Wi-Fi

4 May 2026

Progressive rollout will begin in the first quarter of 2027, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2029
All customers on SIA’s Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range fleet, A380 aircraft will enjoy Starlink’s high-speed seamless connectivity
Customers will continue to enjoy SIA’s unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi experience on board Starlink-enabled aircraft

Singapore Airlines (SIA) customers will enjoy an enhanced in-flight Wi-Fi experience from the first quarter of 2027, with the progressive introduction of Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite‑based broadband service on board SIA’s Airbus A350-900 long‑haul (LH), A350-900 ultra‑long‑range (ULR), and A380 aircraft.

With more than 10,000 satellites launched to low Earth orbit, Starlink can deliver multi-gigabit connectivity to aircraft using its Aero Terminal, which can support up to 1 Gbps per antenna. This means customers in all cabin classes will enjoy faster, smoother, and seamless connectivity from take‑off to landing for activities such as video streaming, sharing content on social media, gaming, and sending large files.

Customers in Suites, First Class, Business Class, PPS Club members, as well as KrisFlyer members travelling in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class, will continue to enjoy SIA’s unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi experience on board Starlink-enabled aircraft[1].

Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines, said: “Fast, seamless connectivity is, today, an essential part of the travel experience. Singapore Airlines already offers the world’s most comprehensive complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi across our entire fleet. Starlink will take this to the next level by delivering next-generation high-speed connectivity, enabling customers to stay entertained, connected, and productive throughout their journey, with a smoother and seamless experience from take-off to landing.”

Mr Jason Fritch, Vice President of Starlink Enterprise Sales, SpaceX, said: “We are excited to bring Starlink on board Singapore Airlines. Customers and crew will soon experience seamless, low-latency connectivity as they travel. Whether flying long-haul or ultra-long-haul distances, Starlink is redefining what is possible for leisure and business travellers alike – making every flight more enjoyable and infinitely more connected.”

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/corporate/newsroom/press-release/2026/april---june-2026/sia_starlink/

 

[dajop]

Should be an improvement. My lingering question is around the supposed "regulatory restrictions" that cause the current wifi to be offline in big chunks of the journey between Europe and SIN. Hope these won't affect starlink.

 

[RooFlyer]

My lingering question is around the supposed "regulatory restrictions" that cause the current wifi to be offline in big chunks of the journey between Europe and SIN. Hope these won't affect starlink.

QR has its Starlink off over India; I think because Starlink isn't licenced there. So SQ will be the same, I suppose.

 

[AuSammy]

QR has its Starlink off over India; I think because Starlink isn't licenced there. So SQ will be the same, I suppose.

The cc on our QR flight said the Indian government forbade them having WiFi on over their sovereign territory. How true that is

 

[markis10]

The cc on our QR flight said the Indian government forbade them having WiFi on over their sovereign territory. How true that is

Think the same goes for PNG

 

[dajop]

Also issues

QR has its Starlink off over India; I think because Starlink isn't licenced there. So SQ will be the same, I suppose.

That would be a shame

3 of my last 4 flights to/from Europe have been on the A380, which have poor coverage over India, Iran/Turkmenistan and Turkey. But A350 was OK. Mainlymiles had a neat article on it, which includes maps of coverage.

Complete guide to Singapore Airlines Wi-Fi

Singapore Airlines offers free unlimited Wi-Fi to First and Business Class passengers, plus all KrisFlyer members in Premium Economy and Economy Class, on up to 3 devices at once. Here’s how …

mainlymiles.com

 

[lovestotravel]

Not doing the A350 medium haul is a total fail SQ

 

[RooFlyer]

Commentary by OMaaT

Singapore Airlines Rolling Out Free Starlink Wi-Fi, With A Major Catch

(reflects @lovestotravel 's comment)

While it’s great to see Singapore Airlines introducing Starlink Wi-Fi, there are two major things that aren’t terribly impressive about this:

Starlink will progressively be rolled out between the first quarter of 2027 and the end of 2029
Starlink will only be rolled out on Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 long haul and ultra long haul fleet, as well as on Airbus A380 aircraft
So it’ll take nearly three years to roll out the service, and it won’t even be coming to all aircraft in the fleet. Specifically, Boeing 737 MAX 8s, 777-300ERs, and 787-10s, as well as medium haul Airbus A350-900s, won’t get the service.

 

[Peasant]

Very disappointing announcement from SQ.

The deployment schedule is glacial compared to nearly any other operator and I'm astounded it's only going on around a third of the fleet. I find the current wifi on many of my flights barely serviceable.

I have become very spoilt by Starlink on QR on all of my flights with them in the last 18 months.

 

[daft009]

India doesn't allow it over Indian airspace, govt rules

 

[SCM]

Another carrier makes a sensible choice to go with starlink - unlike Qantas which insists on using obsolete technology to save a quick buck.

I suspect 777 absence is there before the aircraft are going to be retired in the not too distant future anyway, but given it will be some years, it is a bit strange - here's hoping they will update this plan to include all present aircraft in due time.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

WiFi was abysmal on 830 SIN-PVG today

 

[moa999]

unlike Qantas which insists on using obsolete technology to save a quick buck.

I don't think it's got anything to do with quick bucks.
I suspect Qantas signed a very expensive very locked in contract back in 2017., two years before Elons first bunch of StarLink satellites were launched.

Fully launched the Viasat3 sats are about the same price as a 737, so they like to lock customers in.

The real question is when QFs contract expires.
Might it be say 10yrs from 2017., or related to when the VS3 constellation goes live (later this year).
Viasat also has its own licensed LEO network with Telesat Lightspeed which is due to be active before this SQ network is finished.

WiFi was abysmal on 830 SIN-PVG today

The current Singapore internet is generally average. The older Panasonic Ku systems near unusable, the newer SITA Ka system (359MH, A380 some 773s) slightly better

 

[AuSammy]

The current Singapore internet is generally average. The older Panasonic Ku systems near unusable, the newer SITA Ka system (359MH, A380 some

Last year BNE-SIN-BKK::BKK-SIN-BNE could only get internet working on one sector. The other three not at all even with CC assistance on one of the sectors (she admitted many passengers could not get it to work and it wasn’t uncommon)

 

[SCM]

The real question is when QFs contract expires.
Might it be say 10yrs from 2017., or related to when the VS3 constellation goes live (later this year).
Viasat also has its own licensed LEO network with Telesat Lightspeed which is due to be active before this SQ network is finished.

I don't really see the point of this versus starlink, which would simply be superior quality and value for money. Viasat will probably go bankrupt before this contract expires at this rate.

Qantas could have rolled out starlink at least on their new planes and keep the old ones to Viasat or something, and gradually switched when they can. They just keep making very poor decisions, one after the next.