British Airways is set to offer passengers free Wi-Fi from Elon Musk's Starlink satellites after striking a bumper deal worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
International Airlines Group (IAG) has joined forces with the tech mogul's satellite firm, which will provide free Wi-Fi on almost all of its airlines.
The deal will also see Iberia, Aer Lingus, Level and Vueling all offering internet access to passengers, with all but the latter providing a free service.
BT has also stuck a deal with the network in a bid to provide better internet connection to rural and remote areas of Britain.
The IAG follows Qatar Airways and United Airlines in signing up to use Starlink in the skies.
Its chief executive, Luis Gallego, has confirmed that more than 500 of the company's 601 aircraft will see the network installed.
The airline group is set to have more planes kitted out with high-speed internet connection than any of its competitors in Europe.
British Airways is set to offer passengers free Wi-Fi onboard all of its flights
| GETTYA spokesman for Ryanair rival Aer Lingus said they are hopeful the move will give them a competitive edge over the ultra-budget airline for short-haul flights from Dublin.
Download speeds on Starlink reach more than double the maximum average in British homes - 450MB per second compared to 223MB.
BA will begin rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi on its aircraft from next year.
The move is the latest investment in the airline's £7billion transformation plan, which aims to boost customer experience.
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Luis Gallego has confirmed over 500 of the company's 601 aircrafts will see the network installed
|GETTY
BA chairman and chief executive Sean Doyle described the agreement with Mr Musk's satellite network as a major milestone for the airline.
He said: “We’re continuing to focus on transforming our customer experience.
"Launching Starlink on both our long-haul and short-haul aircraft is game-changing for us and our customers, elevating their experience on board our flights by offering them seamless connectivity from gate-to-gate.
"Especially on short-haul, this will really differentiate us from our competitors.”
BA will begin rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi on its aircrafts from next year
| PAMr Doyle added: “With our new Wi-Fi powered by Starlink, 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. It’s Wi-Fi that feels like home, even at 38,000 feet.”
IAG's Mr Gallego said: "The introduction of high-speed Wi-Fi from Starlink will transform onboard connectivity, improving both the connection speed and reliability for customers.
"Customers from all IAG airlines will be able to benefit from the service from next year.
"This demonstrates how IAG is working together as a group, to drive innovation and secure major deals to benefit all our stakeholders.”
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