Frontier Airlines to Add Starlink, Catching Up to Premium Airlines

Key Points

• Frontier will become the first U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier to offer Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi, with rollout beginning in 2027.
• The deal is part of Frontier’s broader premium push, which already includes business class seats and an upgraded loyalty program aimed at wealthier travelers.
• Frontier joins major carriers like American, United, Southwest, and Alaska on Starlink, plus fellow Indigo Partners airlines Wizz Air, Volaris, JetSmart, and Cebu Pacific.

Summary

Frontier Airlines has signed a deal to install SpaceX’s Starlink satellite Wi-Fi across its fleet, making it the first U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) to adopt the technology, with the first equipped aircraft expected by 2027. The move reflects a broader strategic shift among budget airlines toward premium offerings—Frontier has already introduced business class seats and revamped its loyalty program—as carriers chase higher-spend travelers and the outsized profits that premium products have generated post-pandemic. Frontier joins a growing roster of Starlink airline partners including American, United, Southwest, and Alaska (with Delta and JetBlue opting for competitor Amazon Leo), and aligns with other Indigo Partners-owned carriers such as Wizz Air, Volaris, JetSmart, and Cebu Pacific that are also installing the system.