On 19 August 2026, a Lufthansa aircraft took off for the first time with the new Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi powered by Starlink. An Airbus A320neo bearing the registration “D-AINM” is leading the way, making it the first aircraft in the entire Lufthansa Group fleet to feature the new high-speed service. Passengers can now enjoy in-flight internet speeds that are, in many cases, faster than their connection at home or in the office.
The inaugural flight took the “November Mike” from Frankfurt to Rome at 12:15 p.m. under flight number LH234. At an altitude of 10,000 meters, Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, activated the system. The aircraft will now operate scheduled services as the first in the Lufthansa fleet to feature the new technology.
Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, said: “We are investing more than ever in our guests: in new aircraft, new services, greater choice on board and, of course, state-of-the-art and innovative technology. With Starlink, we will offer the fastest connectivity from take-off to landing, over oceans and deserts, and on short- and long-haul routes. That, too, is premium—and that is what Lufthansa stands for. The introduction of this service marks another milestone in the modernization of Lufthansa.”
Before the end of this year, up to ten more A320-family aircraft operated by Lufthansa and Lufthansa City Airlines are scheduled to receive the new high-speed internet service. The Starlink technology will be installed primarily at Lufthansa Technik in Berlin. Lufthansa is combining the installations during scheduled downtime for technical checks. Other Lufthansa Group airlines will also be equipped soon.
In addition to product and service innovations, equipping the entire Lufthansa Group fleet with the new Starlink technology is part of the extensive investments throughout the entire travel journey. The Group-wide rollout of the new high-speed internet service is intended to provide all passengers with a consistently high-quality online experience while on board. By 2029, approximately 850 aircraft across all Lufthansa Group airlines are expected to be equipped with Starlink. This will make Lufthansa Group the largest airline group in Europe to offer this modern high-speed internet access.
The new “Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi” allows passengers to browse the web and have access to a wide range of eJournals. In the future, passengers will also be able to access information and services related to their flight. The portal includes the terms of use applicable to all passengers. Mastercard is the sponsor of Lufthansa Group Wi-Fi and has already supported the previous FlyNet service as a partner. The service is free of charge for all Miles & More customers and Travel ID users, regardless of travel class.
