An African Airline Just Beat the Continent to Starlink Wi-Fi

Royal Air Maroc plans to install Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on 41 aircraft, making the Casablanca-based oneworld carrier the first African airline to announce the system, according to One Mile at a Time. Installation is expected to start in early 2027. The Wi-Fi will be free for all Safar Flyer loyalty members, though it is unclear whether a frequent flyer number must be on the booking to get it.

The scale of the commitment is a little puzzling. The airline’s fleet is about 70 aircraft, a mix of ATR 72-600s, Embraer E190s, Boeing 737-800s, 737 MAX 8s, 787-8s and 787-9s. The author could not reconcile the 41 figure with that breakdown and estimates it might cover all the Dreamliners and MAX 8s, 32 aircraft in total, plus perhaps nine 737-800s.

Currently most of the fleet offers no Wi-Fi at all, so the upgrade would be a significant change. CEO Hamid Addou said the agreement reflects an ambition to meet the highest international standards. The airline did not disclose the cost of the installation or service. The rollout end date also was not given, and the author notes smaller airlines tend to install more slowly than United, which fits 20 planes a week.

The announcement follows a string of Starlink deals across the industry, including KLM’s plan to offer free Wi-Fi on long-haul flights in 2027. For travelers to Morocco and beyond, the practical effect will not arrive until installations begin next year, and equipped aircraft will probably be phased in gradually rather than all at once.

Sources: One Mile at a Time