The Wi-Fi on your next Alaska or Hawaiian flight may now be faster than the connection in your living room. Alaska Air Group says roughly 150 of its aircraft are flying with SpaceX’s Starlink internet — and for a lot of passengers, it is free.
The group announced the 150-aircraft milestone on 25 June 2026, ahead of its own schedule. Every regional jet is now equipped, along with about 50 mainline aircraft, and the entire widebody fleet is due to follow by the autumn.
The pitch is refreshingly simple: streaming-grade speeds at 35,000 feet, and no paywall for loyalty members.
Quick Facts
| Milestone | ~150 aircraft on Starlink Wi-Fi (Alaska, Hawaiian, Horizon) |
| Announced | 25 June 2026 — ahead of schedule |
| Coverage | All regional jets plus ~50 mainline; widebodies by autumn |
| Speed | Up to ~500 Mbps (about 7× many legacy systems) |
| Cost | Free for Atmos Rewards members (T-Mobile sponsorship); complimentary on connected Hawaiian flights |
| Operator | Alaska Air Group |
Seven times faster than the old Wi-Fi
Starlink works through a dense constellation of low-earth-orbit satellites, and the difference at the seat is dramatic: speeds of up to roughly 500 Mbps, about seven times faster than many of the legacy systems passengers have endured for years. That is the gap between “stream a film, join a video call, play online” and “load one email and give up.”
Free — if you play the loyalty game
The headline for travellers is the price: nothing. Alaska is making Starlink Wi-Fi free for members of Atmos Rewards, the merged Alaska–Hawaiian loyalty programme, underwritten by a sponsorship with T-Mobile. It is already complimentary on connected Hawaiian flights. In other words, connectivity has become a reason to join the programme rather than another line item at the bottom of the booking page.
The connectivity arms race
Starlink is quietly rewiring inflight internet across the industry, and Alaska’s rollout stands out for one reason: its regional jets are already done. Regional aircraft usually get connectivity last, if at all. Finishing them first — and beating the published timeline — says as much about SpaceX’s installation pace as it does about Alaska’s ambitions.
For decades, inflight Wi-Fi was a punchline: slow, expensive, and somehow always broken over the ocean. The joke is finally wearing off — and Alaska just put 150 aircraft on the right side of it.
Sources: AirlineGeeks; Alaska Airlines; Live and Let’s Fly.
Related Questions
How many Alaska and Hawaiian aircraft have Starlink Wi-Fi?
Alaska Air Group announced on 25 June 2026 that about 150 aircraft across Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Horizon Air are equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi. That includes every regional jet plus roughly 50 mainline aircraft.
Is the Starlink Wi-Fi free on Alaska and Hawaiian?
Yes for many passengers. It is free for members of the Atmos Rewards loyalty programme, sponsored by T-Mobile, and is already complimentary on connected Hawaiian Airlines flights.
How fast is Starlink inflight Wi-Fi?
Starlink delivers speeds of up to roughly 500 Mbps onboard, which Alaska says is about seven times faster than many legacy inflight Wi-Fi systems, enough for streaming, video calls, and online gaming.
Which aircraft have Starlink at Alaska Air Group?
As of June 2026, all of the group\u2019s regional jets and about 50 mainline aircraft are equipped. The widebody fleet is expected to be fully equipped by the autumn.
When will the widebodies get Starlink?
Alaska Airlines expects to have its entire widebody fleet equipped with Starlink by the autumn of 2026, completing the rollout across mainline and regional aircraft.
Who provides the inflight Wi-Fi?
The service uses SpaceX\u2019s Starlink low-earth-orbit satellite network. For Alaska Air Group passengers, free access for loyalty members is funded through a sponsorship with T-Mobile.
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