“We are grateful to work with the Starlink team during this transformative journey. Engineered by SpaceX, Starlink is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using low-Earth orbit that will provide airBaltic passengers the fastest in-flight internet. With one of the youngest and the most modern fleets in the European skies, introducing Starlink onboard our Airbus A220-300s is the next logical step for airBaltic,” Gauss added.
airBaltic is working with Starlink to secure the necessary Supplemental Type Certification (STC), which is further to be approved by EASA. The airline expects to begin installing Starlink on its single-type fleet of Airbus A220-300s in Q1 2025.
With plans to equip its entire A220-300 fleet with Starlink, airBaltic aims to provide every passenger with seamless, high-speed internet access from boarding to landing, without the need for logins or complicated setups.
Starlink is being used by so many people, businesses and organizations in more than 118 countries, territories, and other markets around the world, spanning all 7 continents and oceans. The number of people using Starlink has grown to more than 4.6+ million and counting. Serving commercial aircraft since last year, Starlink provides ultra-fast speeds and low latency by utilizing satellites in low-Earth orbit, positioned over 65 times closer than traditional geostationary satellites.
This innovative approach allows Starlink to deliver up to 500 Mbps with a low latency connection, enabling an at home experience where passengers can engage in activities previously unavailable during flights, such as online gaming, using virtual private networks (VPNs), and other high-bandwidth tasks.
airBaltic in brief:
airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is the leading airline in the Baltics and one of Europe’s fastest-growing carriers. As a hybrid airline, it leverages the upsides of both traditional network and low-cost carriers. Through a network of more than 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, airBaltic connects the Baltics with over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Founded in 1995, today airBaltic operates one of Europe’s youngest fleets, consisting of 49 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs over 2 700 professionals. The company is majority-owned by the Latvian state, which holds a 97.97% stake, with the remaining 2.03% owned by private shareholders.
airBaltic’s commitment to excellence is recognized by numerous prestigious awards including the Best Airline in its region by Skytrax for three consecutive years. In 2022, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recognized airBaltic with the Diversity and Inclusion Team Award. Furthermore, in 2023, APEX awarded the company the Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe, and in 2024 airBaltic also received the APEX Four Star Major Airline Award, recognizing its commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience. In 2024, the airline was awarded the PROS AI Innovator Award for leveraging AI to drive transformative outcomes and optimize operations.
About Starlink:
Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. As the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system.
Featured image credited to John Walton
