British Airways is preparing to launch free Starlink Wi-Fi on flights this month following backlash over its “very limited” and pricy services. The flag carrier confirmed plans to roll out Elon Musk‘s satellite internet service last November, joining airlines Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways and Air France in opting for the SpaceX technology. Customers were previously charged up to £21.99 for in-flight internet access, prompting complaints of lagging and unreliability despite the high fees.

One traveller took to X to vent their frustration in January, writing: “Honestly, British Airways, stop charging people [for] Wi-Fi that doesn’t work. It’s actually embarrassing you’re holding the UK’s name.” Another said: “I am done with British Airways. Two transatlantic flights in a row with no Wi-Fi.”

“Disappointed,” a third wrote. “Very limited Wi-Fi on [a British Airways flight] from Singapore to London Heathrow. I flew the same route in reverse with Singapore Air a week ago and the Wi-Fi was consistent and fast.”

Starlink will be rolled out across British Airways’ entire fleet from March, providing travellers with free browsing at speeds of over 100Mpbs.

The new service will also be more readily accessible to passengers, simply requiring them to connect to the network through the plane’s hotspot with no log-in or payment portal.

It will also be available as soon as fliers pass the boarding gates, rather than the current system which forces them to wait until the plane reaches a stable altitude, usually around 10,000 feet.

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Starlink, which has been operational for around five years, provides high-speed, low-latency internet using thousands of satellites in Low Earth Orbit.

International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, reached a deal with Starlink in November to equip around 500 aircraft with Mr Musk’s free Wi-Fi as part of what was touted as a “£7 billion transformation”.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chief executive, said: “We’re continuing to focus on transforming our customer experience. Launching Starlink on both our long-haul and short-haul aircraft is game-changing for us and our customers, elevating their experience on board our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate to gate.

“Especially on short-haul, this will really differentiate us from our competitors. With our new WiFi powered by Starlink, our customers will be able to enjoy lightning-fast, low-lag internet from the moment they board to the moment they land – even over oceans and remote regions. It’s Wi-Fi that feels like home, even at 38,000 feet.”