Virgin Atlantic unveiled a plan to offer free, unlimited, streaming-quality Wi-Fi to all passengers across its entire fleet by the end of 2027, leveraging SpaceX's Starlink satellite technology. The airline's Chief Executive Officer, Shai Weiss, announced the initiative on Tuesday evening, describing it as a step in enhancing the travel experience.
"To fulfill the brief that we've set ourselves, which is to offer free, basically unlimited, streaming-quality connectivity on a plane, right now there's only one solution: it is Starlink," Weiss said, according to the Mirror. "We were the first airline to launch Wi-Fi fleet-wide across the Atlantic, and now we will be the first fleet to complete this transformation."
Virgin Atlantic plans to begin installing Starlink Wi-Fi technology on its Airbus A350 aircraft at the start of 2026, with the goal of equipping its entire fleet of Airbus A330neos, A350s, and Boeing 787s by the end of 2027. Passengers who are members of the airline's Flying Club loyalty program will gain exclusive access to high-speed Wi-Fi during their flights, encouraging more travelers to join the program.
The move to offer free in-flight connectivity is part of a broader strategy to enhance customer experience and stay competitive in the aviation industry. Traditionally, in-flight Wi-Fi services have been costly, unreliable, and limited in speed. With Starlink's network of low Earth orbit satellites, Virgin Atlantic aims to provide a high-quality internet connection, allowing passengers to stream, game, and stay connected on multiple devices throughout their journey.
In addition to the Wi-Fi upgrade, Virgin Atlantic announced plans to launch a new app at the end of 2025. The app will integrate the airline's flight and vacation packages and focus on improved personalization for Flying Club members. A standout feature will be an intelligent AI concierge service, developed in partnership with OpenAI and Tomoro.ai, designed to assist guests in planning their travel experiences end-to-end.
"We have spent a lot of time looking at best-in-class apps across not just travel, but retailing, entertainment, and wellness to take really good insight and learnings from what's working, what customers are really engaging with, to make sure that we're building the right thing," Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Experience Officer for Virgin Atlantic, said, according to Forbes.
Passengers will be able to interact with the AI assistant through voice or text, receiving travel advice, airport navigation assistance, and the ability to search and book flights and holidays directly through the app. The AI-powered voice concierge will provide real-time updates and support in multiple languages, further enhancing the overall travel experience.
Virgin Atlantic is also making investments in its fleet and premium offerings. By 2028, the airline will operate a mixed fleet of 45 fuel-efficient aircraft, including 19 Airbus A330-900s, 12 Airbus A350-1000s, and 14 Boeing 787-9s. This £17 billion investment aims to achieve an average aircraft age of under seven years, reflecting the airline's commitment to sustainability and modernization.
The airline plans to increase the number of premium seats across its fleet due to high demand. Economy seats will decrease from 192 to 127, while premium economy seats will increase from 35 to 56, and business class seats—known as Upper Class—will increase from 31 to 44. The full refit of Virgin Atlantic's aircraft is expected to be completed by 2030, adding more than 400 additional Upper Class seats daily on routes including New York JFK, Boston, Miami, and Orlando.
Furthering its commitment to innovation, Virgin Atlantic established an exclusive relationship with Joby Aviation, an electric air taxi startup. The partnership aims to offer fast, short-haul electric flights between airport hubs and cities across the UK, pending regulatory approvals. "We should be the third market to launch Joby in the world. And it should be an exciting thing," Weiss said, according to Forbes.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.