airBaltic has conducted its certification test flight of SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet aboard its A220-300. The flight, departing from Riga, Latvia, tested both the Starlink aero terminal and internet connection quality as airBaltic progressed towards obtaining the necessary certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Speaking on this important milestone president and chief executive of airBaltic, Martin Gauss said: “By integrating Starlink, we are set to elevate the travel experience for passengers across the airBaltic network throughout Europe and beyond.”
Calling this technology a game-changer in the future of air travel, Gauss called this test flight one step closer to revolutionizing the travel experience for passengers. With this test flight airBaltic has become the first airline in Europe to offer free Starlink’s reliable, high-speed internet
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.
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.
