Southwest Airlines is finally tackling one of the worst parts of its in-flight experience: shoddy Wi-Fi.
The airline announced this week it's installing Starlink internet connectivity its all-Boeing 737 fleet of aircraft, promising a massive leap forward from the sluggish, unreliable connections many Southwest flyers know all too well. It should be a massive improvement after the airline made onboard Wi-Fi free for all last fall, following other U.S. carriers like Delta, United, and others.
“Free Wi-Fi has been a huge hit with our Rapid Rewards Members, and we know our Customers expect seamless connectivity across all their devices when they travel,” said Tony Roach, Southwest’s Executive Vice President and Chief Customer & Brand Officer. “Starlink delivers that at-home experience in the air.”
The first Starlink-equipped aircraft is expected to enter service this summer, with more than 300 planes slated to have the system by the end of 2026. Considering Southwest operates more than 800 Boeing 737s, that’s an aggressive timeline. At that pace, the majority of Southwest's fleet could be upgraded by the end of 2027 … if not sooner.
Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, helps connect some of the most remote spots on earth, including over oceans and the polar regions. Travelers who have used Starlink service on other airlines swear it's the fastest in the skies.
Both United and Alaska/Hawaiian have already committed to Starlink, while international heavyweights like Air France and Qatar Airways also offer it. Meanwhile, Lufthansa Group, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic are all moving in the same direction. With more airlines flipping the switch, fast and free Wi-Fi is quickly becoming the bare minimum.
But there's still a lingering issue: Power. While newer 737 MAX aircraft and some updated planes include USB-A and USB-C ports at every seat, many Southwest jets still lack in-seat power altogether. Fast Wi-Fi won’t help much if your battery dies halfway through the flight.
For Southwest, this move fits squarely into its broader transformation … largely by copying its biggest competitors. Over the past year alone, the airline made some monumental changes, including:
- Started charging for checked bags – something it swore it would never do
- Introduced basic economy
- Raised annual fees on its co-branded credit cards
- Ditched its beloved – and loathed – boarding process … and introduced assigned seating
Southwest used to march to the beat of its own drum and developed a loyal following the process. These days, it looks more like every other airline. Upgrading inflight Wi-Fi is just another step in that evolution.
Bottom Line
Southwest is ready to fix one of its biggest onboard headaches by rolling out fast, free Starlink Wi-Fi across its entire fleet, with more than 300 planes expected to be equipped by the end of 2026.
It’s a major upgrade from the airline’s notoriously spotty internet and another step in its broader shift toward a more premium carrier – though the lack of in-seat power on many jets could still limit the experience.
