Seoul: Five Korean airlines are set to roll out satellite-powered Wi-Fi across their entire fleets, allowing passengers to stay connected throughout their flights. Korean Air (KE), Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul, all under the Hanjin Group, will become the first South Korean carriers to adopt Starlink, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite Internet service.

According to Philippines News Agency, Starlink operates more than 8,000 satellites at about 550 km altitude, providing significantly faster data transmission than traditional systems that depend on ground stations or geostationary satellites positioned over 35,000 kilometers away. "Connectivity is an essential part of the travel experience, and with Starlink, our customers will stay connected with fast and seamless internet," KE said in a statement on Friday.

Passengers across all cabins will have access to reliable in-flight Wi-Fi with speeds of up to 500 Mbps. The five airlines will begin installation preparation and testing later this month, with the earliest service introduction expected by the third quarter of 2026.

KE and Asiana Airlines will prioritize Starlink installation on the long-haul Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Following the integration with Asiana Airlines, KE plans to complete fleetwide installation by the end of 2027. Jin Air will first equip its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, while Air Busan and Air Seoul will review their fleet to determine installation priority.