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Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul—five carriers within the Hanjin Group—revealed on the 5th that they plan to implement Starlink, a satellite-based internet service developed by Elon Musk’s American company SpaceX, as in-flight Wi-Fi. This represents the first instance of a South Korean airline incorporating Starlink for in-flight internet connectivity.

Starlink is a communication service that employs more than 8,000 satellites positioned in low-Earth orbit (around 550 km above the surface). On the 4th, it also launched its services in South Korea. This technology provides internet connectivity in locations where traditional cable communication is challenging, such as on ships, in remote mountainous areas, or aboard aircraft, contributing to its quickly growing business range.

The Hanjin Group’s airlines intend to gradually implement Starlink-based services beginning in the third quarter of 2026, enabling passengers to access fast Wi-Fi irrespective of their seating class. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will initially deploy the system on long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing B777-300ER and Airbus A350-900, with plans to expand it to all aircraft by the end of 2027. Jin Air will start introducing the Starlink system on its B737-8 models, which previously had in-flight Wi-Fi available.

Numerous airlines now offer in-flight Wi-Fi. However, most use geostationary satellites located roughly 36,000 km above the equator, which is different from Starlink. For international flights, planes flying at about 10 km altitude transmit signals to these satellites, which then link to ground networks and send data back to the aircraft. This method leads to slower speeds. Moreover, several planes using a single satellite increases expenses. Starlink, on the other hand, lowers costs and improves internet speed. As a result, some airlines are moving towards providing free in-flight internet. In January, U.S. airline United Airlines stated its intention to implement Starlink on all its planes and provide free access to frequent flyers. Air France also began expanding its free in-flight internet services progressively after adopting Starlink in September of last year.

Hanjin Group’s airlines currently impose fees for in-flight amenities. On the same day, the group mentioned, “We are conducting a comprehensive review of our service operations and policies, with specific details to be revealed at a future time.”