KLM will use Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network to offer free, fast wifi on its intercontinental flights, Tweakers reports. The service will be introduced gradually from mid-2027 and will be available in every travel class.
What happened
According to Tweakers, KLM has chosen Starlink to provide internet access on board its long-haul aircraft. The airline describes the connection as very fast and says it will have low latency, which means a short delay between sending and receiving data. KLM has not said what speeds passengers can expect. Tweakers notes that the airline gave no minimum or maximum data rates and no concrete figures to support its low-latency claim.
KLM does say what passengers should be able to do with the connection. According to the airline, travellers will be able to stream films and series. It also lists sending emails, browsing the web, listening to music and playing games.
The wifi will be free, but you will need to log in. Passengers will use a Flying Blue account, the loyalty programme shared by KLM and Air France. Tweakers reports that you do not need an account before you travel. You can create one shortly before departure or once you are on the plane.
The plan extends something KLM already offers. The airline provides free wifi on its European flights, and Tweakers reports that it will now roll this out gradually to intercontinental routes from the middle of next year. Some details are still unknown. KLM has not said which routes will get the service first, and it is not known how much the airline is paying Starlink, the satellite company owned by Musk.
KLM is not the first in its group to make this choice. Tweakers points out that its sister airline Air France chose Starlink two years ago.
Why it matters if you live in the Netherlands
Many internationals in the Netherlands fly long distances to visit family, travel for work or go home for the holidays. For anyone who flies KLM on these routes, the change means you should eventually be able to stay online for the whole journey without paying extra. Because the offer covers all travel classes, it is not limited to business class passengers or frequent flyers with elite status.
If you work on the move, the uses KLM describes, such as email and web browsing, suggest a long flight could become usable working time. Parents travelling with children may also find streaming useful, since KLM says films and series will be supported. How well this works in practice will depend on the real speeds, which KLM has not yet published.
The Flying Blue requirement is worth noting. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one to use the wifi. Tweakers reports that you can do this at the last minute, including on board, so the requirement should not stop anyone from getting online. Signing up does mean handing over personal details to the airline’s loyalty programme, so check what you agree to when you register.
Timing matters too. The rollout starts in mid-2027 and will be gradual. If you are booking a long-haul trip for the coming months, you should not expect Starlink wifi on board yet. Even after the launch date, your particular route may not be among the first to be connected.
For travellers who already fly KLM within Europe, the experience should feel familiar. The airline already offers free wifi on those flights, and the new service brings long-haul routes in line with that approach.
What to watch next
The biggest open question is performance. KLM has promised fast speeds and low latency but has not backed this up with numbers. Once the service goes live, real-world speed tests from passengers and reviewers will show whether streaming and video calls work as smoothly as the airline suggests.
The second question is the rollout order. KLM has not said which intercontinental routes will be connected first. If you fly regularly to a particular destination, watch for announcements from the airline in the run-up to mid-2027.
The commercial side also remains unclear. Tweakers reports that the amount KLM is paying Starlink has not been disclosed. Whether those costs ever affect ticket prices or the terms of the free offer is something to keep an eye on.
Finally, Air France’s experience may offer clues. Because the sister airline chose Starlink two years ago, its passengers have a head start, and their experience could show what KLM travellers can expect once the service reaches long-haul flights.
Source: Tweakers
Sources
- Tweakers: KLM stapt over op Starlink voor gratis internetverbindingen op verre vluchten, accessed 8 October 2026 (archived copy)
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