You heard right, Virgin Atlantic is finally binning the laggy inflight WiFi and plugging into something that actually works. Starting from Q3 2026, Virgin Atlantic will begin rolling out Starlink WiFi across its Boeing 787-9s, A350-1000s, and A330neos. The whole fleet is expected to be space-age ready by the end of 2027.
So what does that mean for you? No more rage-refreshing Instagram over the Atlantic. No more “your download will complete in 17 hours.” This is free, streaming-quality WiFi in the air, on the house, and faster than a screaming baby at take-off.
For those who don’t speak Elon, Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet network, and it’s already up and running on other carriers like Qatar Airways and JSX. But Virgin’s claiming a UK-first: free, fast WiFi on every aircraft, no matter your seat or status. A bold move in a world where many airlines still charge £15 to load one email (looking at you, Lufthansa).
Here’s what CEO Shai Weiss had to say about it:
“In the last four decades, we’ve evolved from a challenger to a leader and a premium, long-haul flag carrier. We are investing billions to fly the youngest fleet across the Atlantic, the first UK airline to have free, streaming quality, fleet-wide WiFi, more premium seats and a full retrofit of the 787 fleet… The best is yet to come.”
Translation: Virgin Atlantic going full throttle on becoming the coolest kid in the sky, with Starlink WiFi you’ll actually want to use, a fleet that doesn’t look like it’s from the ‘90s, and cabins that don’t scream “budget upgrade.”
Installations start in late 2026. So if you’re flying before then, maybe download that Netflix playlist just in case. But after that? You’ll be streaming, scrolling, and swiping through the skies without paying a penny.
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