airBaltic has announced it has conducted an initial test of SpaceX’s Starlink internet connectivity system onboard its Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The ground test was conducted at the airline’s home base in Riga, and the inflight connectivity system was tested with a full cabin comprising airBaltic and SpaceX’s Starlink employees.

airBaltic is working with SpaceX on achieving the required STC (supplemental type certification) approval and is expected to begin installing the product on the airBaltic Airbus A220-300 fleet by the end of this year. 

With plans to equip its entire A220-300 fleet with SpaceX’s Starlink inflight connectivity system, airBaltic aims to provide every passenger with seamless, high-speed internet access throughout their journey without hassles or login pages. From boarding to landing, internet access will be available to all passengers.

Developed by SpaceX, Starlink provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in over 90 countries and territories around the world and began serving commercial aircraft last year with in-flight high-speed internet. With satellites positioned in low-Earth orbit at an altitude over 65 times closer than conventional geostationary satellites, Starlink achieves significantly lower latency and higher transmission speeds for its end users. Starlink can deliver up to 500 Mbps to aircraft, and with latency as low as 20 ms, passengers can engage in activities previously not functional in flight, including online gaming, virtual private networks, and other high data rate activities.

airBaltic aircraft photo gallery: