A recent study by Ookla reveals that airlines equipped with Starlink's low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet deliver dramatically faster and more reliable Wi-Fi than those using traditional geostationary (GEO) systems. United Airlines posted a median download speed of 319.99 Mbps in 2025, far above the 214 Mbps U.S. ground average, while airBaltic achieved a 98.3% consistency rate — meaning its service met a minimum 25 Mbps download threshold nearly throughout every flight. The findings mark a turning point for in-flight connectivity, which has long been a source of passenger frustration.

United Airlines tops 319 Mbps — the new benchmark for airborne broadband

According to Ookla's data, United Airlines recorded the fastest median download speed among all carriers studied, at 319.99 Mbps. That speed is roughly 50% higher than the average U.S. fixed broadband speed of 214 Mbps — a remarkable feat for an aircraft at 35,000 feet. The study notes that no airline using Starlink reported a median speed below 100 Mbps, while no non-Starlink carrier approached triple-digit speeds. For context, United's own planes still using Intelsat or Inmarsat systems logged speeds of just 56.48 Mbps and 15.34 Mbps, respectively, as Ookla reported.

Why low-Earth orbit beats geostationary: the latency and speed gap

The core advantage of Starlink lies in its LEO satellites, which orbit roughly 550 kilometers above Earth versus the 35,786-kilometer orbit of geostationary satellites. that proximity slashes latency and boosts throughput. As Ookla explains, no other in-flight connectivity (IFC) provider approached triple-digit speeds, and every Starlink-equipped airline outperformed the best legacy system. Emirates (308.65 Mbps), airBaltic (305.77 Mbps), and Alaska Airlines (304.02 Mbps) all joined United in the top tier, making it clear that LEO technology is the decisive factor.

98.3% reliability: airBaltic sets the consistency standard

Ookla defined a consistent Wi-Fi connection as one delivering at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload throughout a flight. airBaltic achieved a 98.3% consistency rate, meaning its service almost never dropped below that threshold. all four top-speed airlines exceeded the 50% consistency mark, but airBaltic's near-perfect score stads out. For passengers who rely on video calls, streaming, or work applications, consistency matters as much as peak speed — and the data shows Starlink delivers both.

Amazon's Project Kuiper and the 40-airline Starlink wave

Approximately 40 airlines have either installed Starlink, are in the process of installing it, or have announced plans to do so, according to the report. American Airlines will begin installing Starlink on over 500 aircraft starting in Q1 2027. Meanwhile, JetBlue and Delta have struck deals with Amazon for its LEO network, Project Kuiper (formerly known as Amazon Leo), which has not yet launched commercially. As the source points out, it remains to be seen how Kuiper will compare to Starlink . What is clear is that the era of mediocre, expensive airline Wi-Fi is ending — but the race between LEO providers is just beginning.

Still unresolved is the fate of older aircraft that may never be retrofitted with LEO terminals, as well as how capacity will scale as tens of thousands of aircraft connect to a finite satellite constellation. these open questions will define the next phase of in-flight connectivity.