South Korea's flagship carrier, Korean Air, announced on Friday that it will begin offering complimentary in-flight internet powered by Starlink on a selection of flights starting next week.
The complimentary service will first launch on Tuesday aboard four retrofitted wide-body aircraft, comprising three Airbus A350-900 jets and one Boeing 777-300ER. These planes will operate medium and long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe, and Southeast Asia, while also covering several key short-haul destinations.
The airline has outlined a plan to progressively equip its entire operational fleet with Starlink connectivity by the end of 2027. Starlink, operated by U.S. space company SpaceX, delivers high-speed internet access through its network of low-Earth orbit satellites.
This launch positions Korean Air as the first full-service carrier in East Asia to integrate the Starlink network. It also marks the initial step in a broad fleet modernization initiative ahead of the carrier's merger with Asiana Airlines.
Asiana Airlines, which is slated to be absorbed by Korean Air, will also introduce complimentary Starlink-supported wireless internet on select flights. During the transition period, aircraft awaiting Starlink installation will continue to offer Korean Air's existing paid in-flight Wi-Fi service.
The initial rollout on Asiana flights will activate on nine Airbus A350-900 and one A330-300 aircraft, with the installation of related communication equipment scheduled for completion this month. Asiana plans to gradually expand the service across its fleet, starting with its remaining A350-900 and A330-300 models.
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