An African Airline Wants to Be First With Starlink Wi-Fi

Royal Air Maroc says it plans to become the first African airline to offer Starlink internet onboard. The rollout is slated to begin in early 2027 and to cover 41 aircraft, putting the Moroccan flag carrier ahead of other airlines on the continent in adopting the satellite service.

The announcement fits a wider pattern. American Airlines is expanding its own Starlink commitment across its mainline fleet, and airlines elsewhere have been competing to promote faster, more reliable connectivity as a way to win loyal customers on long flights.

For passengers, the draw of this kind of system is the prospect of streaming, video calls and responsive browsing in the air, rather than the slow, patchy connections that older in-flight systems often delivered. Details such as pricing, whether access will be free, and which routes will get equipped aircraft first have not been spelled out in the information available so far.

Because installation across 41 aircraft will take time, travellers should not expect every Royal Air Maroc flight to offer the service when the programme starts. Anyone who cares about onboard connectivity will want to check the aircraft type and equipment on their specific flight as the rollout progresses through 2027.

Sources: eTurboNews