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In the travel industry, we're used to things falling behind schedule. Deliveries of new aircraft are delayed, a new business class product might not roll out as smoothly as expected, and mergers might be slowed by regulatory issues. However, it's always a pleasant surprise when things happen ahead of schedule.
When Alaska Airlines announced Atmos Rewards in 2025, it also announced it would begin rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi powered by Starlink. By the end of 2025, the first Starlink-equipped flights had already taken off. And just six months later, Alaska and Hawaiian have announced that 100% of their regional fleet and 50 mainline aircraft are now equipped with Starlink, putting the rollout far ahead of schedule.
Here's what you need to know and how to access it.
Alaska Airlines Launches Starlink Wi-Fi
You won't need to consult the Alaska Airlines Wi-Fi guide for too much longer. As of June 2026, more than a third of Alaska's and Hawaiian's aircraft are equipped with Starlink, which is made complimentary thanks to T-Mobile. Alaska now offers a progress tracker that gets updated every four weeks and shows which type of aircraft are currently equipped with Starlink.
The only thing that would make the tracker better is if Alaska included tail numbers for aircraft that are currently being updated. For instance, if you are flying on an Airbus A330, you will absolutely have Starlink on your next flight. However, if you're flying on a Boeing 737-8 MAX, there's roughly a 1-in-3 chance you'll have Starlink. If Alaska shared which tail numbers had already been updated, it would be much easier to plan for your flight.
Fast, free Wi-Fi is clearly the next great frontier in aviation. If you aren't familiar, Starlink offers high-speed internet using Low Earth Orbit satellites. Almost two dozen airlines have partnered with the company to provide internet to passengers. Major carriers like United are deep in the process of rolling out fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi, and British Airways announced a partnership with Starlink at the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines already offers free Wi-Fi on most of its flights but has also announced a partnership with Amazon Leo — one of Starlink's biggest competitors.
Starlink offers speeds of up to 500 Mbps, which is at least 7X faster than previous in-flight Wi-Fi systems. It certainly isn't surprising that Alaska adopted Starlink, as Hawaiian Airlines was the first major U.S. airline to install the Wi-Fi on its long-haul jets in 2024, just before its merger with Alaska.
In terms of a timeline, Alaska is on track to complete the rollout across its entire widebody fleet this fall, with the project expected to be complete by 2027. However, if the airline continues to move ahead of schedule, we could see Starlink Wi-Fi on all Alaska's planes by the end of the year.
As a reminder, any Atmos Rewards member will be able to access Starlink Wi-Fi on an eligible flight. Signing up for the loyalty program is free. You won't need to hold elite status within the program or pay any additional fees. You'll even be able to connect on multiple devices — no more disconnecting your phone to connect on your laptop or tablet.
Alaska and Hawaiian are introducing a new onboard portal to make it easier to connect to Wi-Fi or join Atmos Rewards. Existing Atmos Rewards members will be able to connect automatically, while new members can sign up in just a few steps. Guests under 18 can connect to free Wi-Fi after entering their reservation details, but the Atmos Rewards program is open to all ages, so it's worth signing your kids up to help them start earning points.
Final Thoughts
I'm looking forward to a day when every airline offers fast, free Wi-Fi. Until then, it's exciting that Alaska Airlines has 150 Starlink-enabled aircraft in service and continues to add more each month. Starlink might be the fastest Wi-Fi available for commercial aviation, so if you like to stream, work, or stay connected during your flight, choosing Alaska Airlines just got a whole lot more enticing.
