Frontier Airlines Is Getting Starlink in 2027

Frontier Airlines announced today that it will introduce Starlink on its fleet, with the first equipped aircraft planned for early 2027.

Frontier is part of Indigo Partners, the private equity firm that also backs Wizz Air, Volaris, JetSMART, and Cebu Pacific. Collectively these airlines expect to install Starlink on over 1,000 aircraft.

What's Actually in the Announcement

The connectivity will be managed directly by Starlink rather than through a third-party inflight connectivity provider.Frontier also notes the system will provide gate-to-gate connectivity for pilots, flight attendants, and ground operations.

Frontier CEO Jimmy Dempsey positioned it alongside first class seating and loyalty program enhancements as part of a broader push to evolve the product while keeping fares low. It fits with the larger trend of increase premium demand.

The Question the Press Release Doesn't Answer

Nowhere in today's announcement is there a mention of whether Starlink will be free for Frontier passengers. My guess is that the airline will take a similar approach by offering it free to it's frequent flyer program members.

This is the thing to watch as more details emerge closer to the 2027 launch.

The Bigger Picture

Starlink is rapidly becoming the de facto standard for inflight connectivity across the industry. American announced it on 500+ narrowbody aircraft starting Q1 2027. Alaska is rolling it out fleet-wide with free access for Atmos members. Delta also has a Starlink commitment. United is in progress. And now Frontier - and through Indigo Partners - four other international ULCCs.

The pace of this is fast. Two years ago Starlink was a novelty on a handful of aircraft. By 2027 it'll be equipped on thousands of planes. The days of paying $8 for barely functional inflight Wi-Fi seem to be ending.

Source: Frontier Airlines Newsroom