EconomyFairbanks · June 29, 2026
free wifi, finally
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have equipped about 150 aircraft with free Starlink wifi that keeps working over Canada and across Alaska.
Daily Alaska staff · June 29, 2026 · Fairbanks
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have equipped roughly 150 aircraft with free, satellite-based Starlink wifi, rolling out the service ahead of schedule across their combined fleet. The entire regional fleet is already equipped, along with the first 50 of the larger mainline jets, with the rest expected to be completed by 2027.
The upgrade matters for Alaska flyers in particular. Routes to and from the state, including Anchorage and Fairbanks, have long lost internet signal somewhere over Canada, leaving passengers with a frozen screen for a stretch of the flight. The new satellite-based system is designed to keep working on those northern and southern routes over Canada and across Alaska.
The wifi itself is free, but passengers need to be enrolled in the airline's rewards program to access it. Signing up for the rewards program is also free.
A new onboard portal for the service is rolling out this month. The airlines say it will be standard across flights by the middle of July.
In this story
Questions people ask
Is the new airplane wifi free?
Yes, it's free once you're enrolled in the airline's rewards program, which is also free to join.
Which airlines have the new wifi?
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have free Starlink wifi on about 150 of their aircraft combined.
When will all planes have it?
The entire regional fleet and the first 50 mainline jets already have it, with the rest of the fleet expected to be equipped by 2027.
Does wifi work the whole flight to Alaska?
Yes, the satellite system keeps working over Canada and across Alaska, where cell signal traditionally drops.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have equipped about 150 aircraft with free Starlink wifi. · webcenterfairbanks.com
- The entire regional fleet plus the first 50 mainline jets are equipped, with the rest expected by 2027. · webcenterfairbanks.com
- Passengers must be enrolled in the airline's free rewards program to use the free wifi. · webcenterfairbanks.com
- A new onboard wifi portal rolling out this month will be standard across flights by mid-July. · webcenterfairbanks.com
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