Frontier is finally bringing Wi-Fi aboard with Starlink
The budget carrier plans to install SpaceX’s satellite internet on its first Airbus jet in early 2027, joining four other low-cost airlines in the deal.
By Frankie Delgado · News Reporter
2 min read
Frontier Airlines is getting ready to switch on in-flight Wi-Fi for the first time, with SpaceX’s Starlink set to power the service on the carrier’s planes starting in early 2027.
The airline said Tuesday that its first Airbus aircraft fitted with Starlink satellite internet will enter service early next year. Frontier does not currently offer Wi-Fi on board, making the move a notable shift for one of the last major U.S. airline holdouts.
CNBC reported that Frontier is part of a broader Starlink rollout involving five budget airlines that together operate more than 1,000 aircraft. Alongside Frontier, the carriers are Mexico’s Volaris, European low-cost airline Wizz, Chile’s Jetsmart and the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific.
All five airlines share Indigo Partners as an investor, according to CNBC. The private equity firm is led by Bill Franke, a longtime airline investor.
Free Wi-Fi remains an open question
A Frontier spokeswoman declined to tell CNBC whether passengers will have to pay for the Starlink service. Several larger airlines that have made Starlink deals have offered free Wi-Fi to members of their loyalty programs, according to CNBC.
Frontier had previously held off on adding internet access in the cabin. CNBC reported in 2022 that the airline had been in talks with Starlink about launching its first Wi-Fi product. Former Frontier CEO Barry Biffle had said the company was cautious about adding the equipment because of the extra weight it would put on aircraft.
That calculation is changing as airlines compete harder on the passenger experience. CNBC reported that budget carriers have faced pressure to move beyond bare-bones service while bigger rivals bring in more revenue from premium cabins.
Frontier has already signaled a shift in that direction. The airline is planning to introduce first-class seats next year, according to CNBC.
Starlink keeps signing airlines
The Frontier deal adds to a growing aviation business for Starlink, the satellite internet unit of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. CNBC reported that Starlink has agreements with more than 40 airlines worldwide.
Major U.S. carriers including United Airlines and American Airlines have also signed Starlink deals, as airlines upgrade onboard internet and travelers increasingly expect stronger connections in flight, according to CNBC.
The financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed by the airlines, CNBC reported. SpaceX did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
For Frontier passengers, the practical takeaway is simple: the no-Wi-Fi era is nearing its end. If the rollout stays on schedule, the airline’s first Starlink-equipped Airbus will take off in early 2027.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.