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Airlines are increasingly moving away from paid inflight Wi-Fi models, offering passengers free internet access driven by the rapid development of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. This is a key finding from a study by the UK-based firm Valour Consultancy.

SpaceX’s Starlink, along with competing LEO solutions such as Eutelsat OneWeb and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, have significantly transformed the Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) market. After years of various business models—including paid access, sponsored sessions, and “freemium” solutions—coexisting, a clear trend toward completely free Wi-Fi has emerged in 2025.

Starlink has played a particularly pivotal role in the adoption of free satellite connectivity on board. Currently, approximately 80% of the global fleet is estimated to be equipped with some form of connectivity.

Traditionally, the paid model dominated the market. While providers like Viasat and SES S.A. (formerly Intelsat) enabled airlines to offer free access, the final monetization strategy was left to the carrier. In contrast, Starlink’s baseline product is inherently free or freemium. Starlink’s current order book includes the equipment of roughly 8,000 aircraft.

The “freemium” model refers to an approach where basic access is provided free of charge (sometimes with speed or service limitations), while premium features remain paid or are reserved for specific passenger tiers, such as loyalty program members.

While some airlines maintain sponsored models (e.g., partnerships with mobile operators), even fully free access without external funding creates new revenue streams. These include dynamic inflight advertising and expanded e-commerce. Furthermore, it enhances operational efficiency—from real-time crew communication with ground MRO services to telemetry transmission and faster IFEC system updates.

LEO constellations provide high-speed, low-latency broadband, making the user experience comparable to home or office internet. However, this does not mean passengers are abandoning seatback screens. Airlines that have implemented Starlink report no decline in the usage of built-in Inflight Entertainment (IFE) systems.

Consequently, major IFE suppliers such as Panasonic Avionics, RAVE Aerospace, and Thales Group can expect sustained demand for their hardware as the industry balances high-speed connectivity with traditional entertainment.