Lead IT Systems Engineer

Singapore Airlines picks Starlink for free inflight Wi-Fi. Singapore Airlines has selected Starlink as its next-generation inflight Wi-Fi provider, with installations beginning in Q1 2027. Free access will be available to all passengers in eligible cabins, with one small hoop for those in premium economy and economy. Two caveats are worth noting. The rollout takes nearly three years to complete, and a sizeable chunk of the fleet is excluded entirely. What was announced. Singapore Airlines confirmed on May 4, 2026 that it has selected SpaceX's Starlink to deliver inflight connectivity at speeds of up to 1 Gbps per antenna. That's an order of magnitude faster than the satellite connections most carriers offer today, and it puts the airline in the same bucket as American, United, Emirates, and Lufthansa Group, all of which have signed Starlink deals. Installations begin in Q1 2027 and are expected to wrap up by the end of 2029. The total fleet getting the upgrade is around 53 aircraft, which works out to roughly one-third of the airline's total passenger fleet. Which aircraft gets Starlink. Starlink installations are concentrated on Singapore Airlines' long-haul Airbus fleet. Three aircraft types are in scope: * Airbus A350-900 Long Haul: 34 aircraft * Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range: seven aircraft * Airbus A380-800: 12 aircraft Most transpacific flights from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK), and Newark (EWR) are operated by an A350-900 Ultra Long Range, and all seven of those aircraft are in scope. The A380 still runs on a handful of premium routes, including the Frankfurt to New York fifth-freedom flight. Excluded aircraft are just as notable: * Airbus A350-900 Medium Haul: 24 aircraft * Boeing 777-300ER: 22 aircraft * Boeing 787-10: 28 aircraft * Boeing 737-8 MAX: 21 aircraft That's nearly 100 aircraft that won't see Starlink at all, including most of the regional and intra-Asia fleet. If your itinerary includes a Boeing 787-10 or 777-300ER segment, you'll be on the existing connectivity setup well past 2029. Who gets it for free. For premium economy and economy passengers, free access requires a KrisFlyer membership. KrisFlyer is free to join and signing up takes a couple of minutes, so this isn't a real barrier. It's worth doing before you fly anyway, since you'll also earn redeemable miles on the flight. Where's the catch. Two things take the shine off this announcement. First, the rollout takes almost three years, which is unusually slow for a Starlink deployment compared to other carriers that have moved faster on similar installs. Second, only about a third of the fleet is included. The Boeing 787-10, 777-300ER, and 737-8 MAX collectively handle most of Singapore Airlines' regional and medium-haul flying, and none of those flights will see Starlink under this program. How Canadians can reach a starlink-equipped flight. Most Canadians who fly Singapore Airlines do so via Aeroplan, which lets you book Singapore Airlines as a Star Alliance partner. The airline no longer flies to Vancouver, so you'll connect through a US gateway like Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Newark (EWR), or New York (JFK). Those transpacific flights are exactly the routes that get Starlink. The Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range operates Singapore Airlines' longest services, including the world's longest scheduled flight from Singapore to Newark, and all seven of those aircraft are covered. For Canadians collecting KrisFlyer miles via Marriott Bonvoy at 3:1, the Wi-Fi access is automatic when booking in Suites, first class, or business class. For premium economy or economy, sign up for KrisFlyer (it's free) before your flight and you're set. Conclusion. Personally, I'm a huge fan of fast inflight Wi-Fi. Once Starlink rolls out, I'd happily pick a Starlink-equipped A350 or A380 over a Boeing-operated alternative, even if the schedule is a bit less convenient. Being productive on an ultra-long-haul flight is a different experience entirely with proper bandwidth. If you're flying Singapore Airlines on a transpacific or transatlantic A350 Ultra Long Range or A380 sometime after Q1 2027, this is good news. You'll get fast, free Starlink connectivity, and the KrisFlyer signup requirement for economy is a non-issue. Just don't expect the same on a regional flight or a Boeing-operated route any time soon. The slow timeline and limited fleet coverage mean Singapore Airlines is bringing Starlink to a smaller slice of its flying than the headline announcement suggests. First-year value Monthly fee: $15.99 Welcome bonus 15,000 Membership Rewards points - Earn 1,250 points per month upon spending $750 per month for 12 months Earning rates 5xGroceries 5xDining 5xFood Delivery 3xStreaming 2xTransit 2xRideshare 2xGas 2xTravel 1xEverything Else * Transfer to airline and hotel partners

SpaceX successfully test-fired its Starship Version 3 vehicle this week, marking significant progress towards the rocket's 12th test flight targeted for early or mid-May. The upgraded spacecraft fired its six Raptor engines on a test stand in South Texas, followed by a 33-engine static fire of its Super Heavy booster directly on the launch pad, creating the most powerful rocket booster ever fired. Starship V3 features higher-thrust Raptor engines and increased size compared to previous versions. The upgrades are crucial for demonstrating in-orbit refueling capabilities needed to transform Starship into a human-rated Moon lander for NASA's Artemis programme. Meanwhile, Blue Origin is preparing to launch its third New Glenn rocket on 19 April from Cape Canaveral, using a reused booster for the first time.