Starlink has officially become the gold standard for inflight internet. According to recent data from Ookla, SpaceX’s satellite internet service is now delivering the fastest speeds in the skies, outpacing all other inflight providers globally – and by a significant margin.
SpaceX’s Starlink leverages its extensive low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, which allows for faster data transfers and lower latency than traditional medium or geostationary orbit systems. With Starlink, passengers aboard Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways are enjoying median speeds of 161 Mbps and 120 Mbps, respectively
. At their peak, those speeds shoot up to a blazing 276 Mbps and 236 Mbps – enough to stream, video call, or download large files without interruption at 30,000 feet.
This is no small feat. Traditional inflight internet has long suffered from sluggish speeds and sky-high latency. The difference with Starlink is night and day. In fact, Spirit Airlines, which uses HughesNet – a service relying on MEO and GEO satellites – couldn’t come close. Its typical speeds maxed out at 84 Mbps median, with much higher latency.
Beyond aviation, SpaceX is also rapidly deploying Starlink across the maritime sector, with cruise giants like Royal Caribbean embracing the service. JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and soon United Airlines are leading the charge in the skies, bringing Starlink’s game-changing connectivity to passengers worldwide.
Even more impressive? Starlink’s average latency clocks in at just 44 milliseconds – over 10 times better than the nearest competitor. For those unfamiliar, that means snappy responsiveness for everything from web browsing to online gaming.
While other players like Amazon’s Kuiper are still building their constellations, SpaceX is already dominating this crucial segment of the connectivity race. With every Falcon 9 launch, Starlink tightens its grip on a future where fast, reliable internet is available anywhere – even 35,000 feet above the ground.