We’ve all been on one flight where we forgot to pre-download a film, or drastically underestimated how much time it takes to watch a season of the Office, and ended up with only the passing clouds for company.
For British Airways (BA) customers, that situation could become a thing of the past, as the company is set to introduce a huge change to in-flight entertainment.
From 2026, BA will offer in-flight wi-fi to every customer on board for no extra cost. At present customers are charged between £2.99 and £21.99 to access the internet, with the fee varying depending on whether you’re messaging or streaming, and the length of your flight. There won’t be restrictions on what you access with this new wi-fi; BA says that everyone will be free to ‘stream video, work and remain connected on multiple devices’.
The move comes as BA has struck a deal with Elon Musk’s satellite company Starlink, which already provides wifi to several North American airlines like United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and airBaltic.
BA Chief executive Sean Doyle says that providing complimentary high-speed internet to all passengers, including those in economy, is a ‘game changer’. He explained that ‘our customers will be able to enjoy lightning-fast, low-lag internet from the moment they board to the moment they land – even over oceans and remote regions’, adding ‘especially on short-haul routes, this will really set us apart’.
Starlink will also provide wi-fi to BA’s sister airlines, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling, all in all covering more than 500 planes and tens of thousands of seats. The service will be rolled out in stages, starting in early 2026.
This is part of a wider £7 billion ‘transformation programme’ for BA, which has been ongoing since last year. Some changes, like the proposal to stop serving bottled water or removing back-seat screens, have been controversial. Others, like new airport lounges and an ultra-fancy ‘lounge’ seat that comes with ‘adjustable mood lighting’ and an entire bed, have been more warmly welcomed – at least by those that can afford them.
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