Streaming at 35,000 Feet: The Race to Sky-High Wi-Fi

Once upon a time, flying meant disconnecting.

Movies, books, crosswords—these are just some of the things you can do in-flight.

However, modern flyers demand more.

According to data, Delta and United each clock over 1.5 million in-flight Wi-Fi sessions monthly, while JetBlue sees usage in the millions annually.

Alaska Airlines reports about 35% of its passengers choose to pay—typically around USD 8—to surf, stream, and stay connected mid-air.

Despite this growing appetite, full Internet access remains a premium—Delta once charged nearly USD 50 per month, though it’s shifting to USD 5 per flight per device.

Still, the industry sees MASSIVE growth ahead. Estimates put the in-flight Wi-Fi market at around USD 5 billion in 2022, potentially rising above USD 12 billion by 2030.

Photo from Avionics International

From Towers to Satellites and Beyond

• Air-to-Ground (ATG)

  This method is akin to skyborne cellphone towers. Aircraft hook into ground-based networks—trains of towers reaching up with directed signals from below.

  Intelsat pioneered this with American Airlines in 2008, covering over 1,000 North American jets.

  However, ATG suffers from blind spots—deserts, oceans, and rural areas—and delivers speeds of only 5 Mbps, shared between hundreds of users. That clearly pales against Earth-based averages (30 to 67 Mbps).

• Satellite-Based Systems

  Satellites bring more promise: Broader coverage and fewer interruptions.

  Providers like Intelsat and Viasat have built these networks. Intelsat now serves airlines such as Alaska, American, Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

  Meanwhile, Viasat, which has been working with airlines like JetBlue since 2013, delivers 100 Mbps per aircraft or 15 Mbps per device.

  Yet even this pales compared to what’s happening now.

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Revolution: Starlink and Beyond

  Enter Starlink…

  SpaceX’s LEO constellation has flipped the script.

  With thousands of satellites near Earth, it brings speeds north of 200 Mbps, lower latency, and near-ground Internet-like performance.

  Now, airlines are racing to integrate:

• United: Rolling out Starlink to its fleet—first regional jets, then mainline aircraft.
• Hawaiian: Starlink-powered Wi-Fi.
• Qatar Airways, Air France, and Air New Zealand: Moving toward Starlink—and offering it free to loyalty members.
• American Airlines: Launching free Wi-Fi via AT&T using Viasat and Intelsat tech starting January 2026 across 90% of its fleet.

Despite all these, the question remains:

Here are a few reasons:

• Mobility Matters: An aircraft isn’t a stationary router. It flies fast, maneuvers sharply, and moves across vast territories. Keeping a satellite connection tight amid these conditions is a technical ballet.

• Launch vs. Tower: Satellites take years and costs to launch. Ground towers? They are much quicker and cheaper to deploy — though they don’t offer global reach.

• Cost Pressure: Passengers grumble at high prices, and inconsistent quality remains a turn-off.

• Installation Hurdles: Fitting Wi-Fi gear—antennas, routers—into aircraft is complex and expensive.

Thankfully, the bright future of in-flight connectivity is still in sight!

In fact:

• Viasat, Intelsat, and others are mixing ATG and satellite solutions to deliver seamless service no matter where a flight goes.
• Global connectivity & entertainment—including Wi-Fi—is expected to surge from USD 8.7 billion in 2024 to almost USD 19.4 billion by 2032 at a 10.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
• In-flight Internet alone is estimated at USD 1.6 billion in 2024, potentially reaching USD 2.87 billion by 2034.
• Connectivity isn’t just for passengers nowadays. Airlines are also using it for crew coordination, aircraft maintenance, and even boosted revenue via ads or streaming content partnerships.

So yes. While full, seamless sky-high internet is closer than ever, Delta notes that some business travelers still value being unplugged at 35,000 feet.

For most, though, the future is clear: A cabin where downloading your meeting slides or streaming a new show is as natural as breathing.

—

From slow, sparse ATG systems to satellite models, and now to the breakneck speed of LEO networks like Starlink, in-flight Wi-Fi has transformed and continues to do so.

Passengers now expect connectivity that mimics ground-based speeds and accessibility.

It’s a good thing that the industry is delivering—with innovations, bold partnerships, and a shared vision.

Because of that, the sky should no longer feel disconnected but even more connected to the ground below.