Free In-Flight Wi-Fi May Become The Norm

The prospect of in-flight Wi-Fi being free forever seemed like a distant dream, but a recent statement from a SpaceX executive has rekindled hopes. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Nick Seitz, global head of Starlink’s aviation business, expressed his expectation that airlines would continue to offer complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi, despite the integration of Starlink’s high-speed internet service.

As the aviation industry increasingly adopts Starlink for in-flight connectivity, concerns arose about the possibility of paid tiers for faster service. However, Seitz believes that free in-flight Wi-Fi will remain the norm, citing the success of free internet experiences on terrestrial networks. “Free products are generally the most profitable products,” he noted, drawing from his experience leading the charge on bringing free internet to US mobile customers during his tenure at T-Mobile. Seitz’s assertion that “if you’re not paying for the product, you’re probably the product” suggests that airlines will focus on monetizing in-flight Wi-Fi through advertising and data analytics rather than charging passengers directly.

This approach would align with the business models of many internet service providers, which offer free or low-cost services in exchange for user data. While Seitz’s comments suggest that most airlines will opt for free in-flight Wi-Fi, he did acknowledge ← →