SpaceX is close to striking a deal with Saudia to bring Starlink WiFi to its planes, making streaming and browsing in the skies a breeze.
RIYADH: Long flights on Saudia could soon get a lot more connected. SpaceX, the company run by Elon Musk, is reportedly in advanced talks with Saudi Arabia’s national airline to bring its Starlink satellite internet to more than 140 aircraft.
If the deal goes through, passengers could enjoy super-fast, low-lag WiFi in the air—good enough for video calls, streaming, and online gaming. It would be Starlink’s biggest airline win yet in the Gulf, following its debut with Qatar Airways earlier this year.
Bloomberg reports that SpaceX is also chatting with Emirates, flydubai, and Gulf Air about bringing Starlink to their fleets. For UAE airlines, though, the service would need government approval before it can take off.
Starlink for airlines works on a subscription basis, but installing the kit isn’t cheap—each aircraft costs between $300,000 and $500,000 to equip. Once it’s running, passengers can connect just like at home, but from 35,000 feet.
Saudia hasn’t confirmed the deal, but its guest experience chief recently visited SpaceX’s Texas site to check out the tech. If approved, the move could make Saudia one of the most connected airlines in the region, giving passengers Netflix-level speed in the skies.
