Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have begun switching to Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by U.S.-based SpaceX. In line with launching as a merged carrier this December, the airlines plan to offer Starlink to customers for free in the air to boost satisfaction.
According to the aviation industry on the 21st, Korean Air (003490) has been installing Starlink's in-flight Wi-Fi system on its A350-900 mid-to-large aircraft since the 8th.
Korean Air owns three A350-900 aircraft, which are deployed on major routes including Toronto, Canada; Rome, Italy; and Osaka, Japan. Korean Air will later proceed with in-flight Wi-Fi installation on aircraft such as the B777-300ER and B787-9.
Asiana Airlines (020560), which faces integration with Korean Air this December, also began Starlink replacement work on the 18th. It is replacing in-flight Wi-Fi systems starting with 15 A350-900 aircraft and plans to expand the scope to models such as the B777 and A380.
The two companies plan to install Starlink on all aircraft by the end of 2027 to provide in-flight Wi-Fi service. The group's low-cost carrier (LCC) affiliates Jin Air (272450), Air Busan and Air Seoul will begin replacement work within the third quarter.
Starlink is a service that provides broadband internet based on low-orbit communication satellites at an altitude of about 550 kilometers. Using more than 8,000 low-orbit satellites, it can transmit and receive data at speeds of up to 500 Mbps. In the cabin, passengers can not only send and receive messages but also perform tasks requiring large amounts of data, such as over-the-top (OTT) streaming, gaming and shopping.
Korean Air and Asiana have decided to provide the Starlink in-flight internet service to passengers for free. Under the existing system, Korean Air charged 10.95 dollars (about 16,000 won) for two hours and 20.95 dollars (about 31,000 won) for the entire flight duration to use in-flight internet on long-haul routes. The merged Korean Air expects this will help raise passenger service satisfaction in the early stages of its launch.
"We plan to officially announce the exact service start date later, following a period of service stabilization and other steps," a Korean Air official said.
