Korean Air, along with its affiliated carriers—Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul—is set to become the first South Korean airline group to adopt SpaceX’s Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service across its entire fleet.
This marks the first time a South Korean airline will adopt Starlink for in-flight connectivity, an initiative that aims to significantly elevate the passenger and crew experience ahead of the airlines’ full integration.
Starlink, SpaceX’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service, delivers peak broadband speeds of up to 500 Mbps, enabling passengers to enjoy seamless streaming, online gaming, video calls, cloud-based work, shopping and messaging. With Starlink, customers across all cabins will have access to fast, reliable in-flight Wi-Fi, allowing them to stay connected in the air as effortlessly as they would on the ground.
All five airlines will begin installation preparation and testing later this year. Rollout schedules will vary by carrier, with the earliest service introduction expected as early as the third quarter of 2026.
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will prioritize Starlink installation on its long-haul Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Following the integration with Asiana Airlines, the airline plans to complete fleetwide installation by the end of 2027. Jin Air will first equip its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, and Air Busan and Air Seoul will review its fleet to determine installation priority.
Starlink operates more than 8,000 low Earth orbit satellites at approximately 550 km altitude, enabling data transfer superior to traditional in-flight internet systems that rely on ground stations or geostationary satellites located over 35,000 km away.
“We’re thrilled to deliver industry-leading, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi fleetwide to Korean Air and Hanjin Group airlines and their guests. With Starlink onboard, you’ll be able to continue working productively, stream your favorite shows, and game just as you can do on the ground,” Chad Gibbs, vice president of Starlink Business Operations, SpaceX, said.
