FlySafair Starlink Wi-Fi plans

FlySafair is still reviewing Internet technologies to offer onboard Wi-Fi on its domestic flights and says nothing other than Starlink has been particularly compelling.
The airline first revealed the project in May 2024. The move would set it apart from other domestic carriers in South Africa, none of which offer in-flight Wi-Fi services.
MyBroadband asked FlySafair for an update on its plans and chief marketing officer Kirby Gordon said it was “constantly exploring options”.
“Our aim would be to find a solution that is reliable, affordable, and ultimately something that has all the requisite aviation regulatory approvals, which is quite a big thing.”
He added that FlySafair is particularly interested in Starlink’s solutions and is reviewing the technology to understand the realities and implications.
“We’ve not made any commitments to anything yet, and the Starlink solution is very compelling in terms of the net result,” said Gordon.
He explained that Starlink’s technology is superior in terms of the connectivity and speeds it can facilitate in a flight environment.
“There is a lot of work to be done on the approvals both for the aircraft equipment, particularly with local regulators, and, obviously the approvals that Starlink needs for commercial operations in South Africa,” added Gordon.
“There are other more traditional solutions that are available but nothing that’s been particularly compelling given the quality of the product that can be yielded and the cost and complexity to implement, versus what the future might hold with this new superior technology.”
FlySafair previously told MyBroadband that domestic carriers don’t offer in-flight Wi-Fi because the conventional technology for these services requires expensive equipment and provides “spotty” service quality.
The only commercial technology suitable for providing Wi-Fi connectivity at a plane’s cruising altitude is satellite Internet technology.
However, these services are expensive, and installing the auxiliary radome atop the fuselage presents its own challenges.
“This radome can adversely affect the aircraft’s aerodynamic performance, leading to increased operational costs,” said FlySafair.
“They also often require that holes are drilled through the hulls, which can devalue the planes.”

The airline said it had reviewed newer technologies addressing the poor performance, installation, and pricing issues.
One such solution is Starlink Aviation, a business product designed for airlines that provides connectivity through SpaceX’s fleet of 6,000-odd low-earth orbit satellites.
SpaceX launched the product in October 2022. It provides download speeds of between 40Mbps and 220Mbps and upload speeds ranging from 8Mbps to 25Mbps.
Starlink charges $2,000 per month for a 20GB cap package or $10,000 per month for an uncapped plan. Both are available on a month-to-month basis.
Several airlines worldwide, including Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, JSX, and Qatar Airways, already use the service.
However, Starlink must overcome two significant hurdles before FlySafair or South African airlines can use the service.
Starlink Aviation requires regulatory approval, and much like its land-based service, South Africa’s communications regulator would likely deem the technology illegal until Starlink acquires the necessary licences.
The other hurdle is that the Starlink Aviation Aero Terminal antenna has only been certified for 12 airframes, only one of which is used by a South African airline.
The Starlink Aviation FAQ page shows that certification for the Boeing 737, the most widely-used plane for domestic flights in South Africa, should be ready in the first quarter of 2025.
Similarly, the A320 airframe, which Lift and South African Airways use, should also be certified by then.
The FAQ page shows that another airframe used by Lift and South African Airways — the A330 — has been certified.