A tablet connecting to Starlink on an Aer Lingus flight. Eoin McGirl Eoin McGirl

AER LINGUS HAS begun rolling out complimentary Wi-Fi across its fleet using the Elon Musk-owned Starlink system that led to a squabble between Musk and Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary. 

The Starlink internet connectivity system operates by way of more than 10,000 satellites that orbit Earth and beam down a connection to areas that are out of the reach of other connection methods. 

Starlink can provide even the most isolated areas with a connection and has also increasingly been used by some of the world’s biggest airlines. 

Aircraft can connect to Starlink via customised antenna that is fitted to aircraft and can pick up the signal. 

Late last year Aer Lingus confirmed that it was partnering up with Starlink and the airline has now confirmed that its first aircraft has been fitted with the required tech and a flight with Starlink internet has already taken place. 

The first flight with Starlink internet flew yesterday on the Dublin to New York JFK route. 

In a statement, Aer Lingus said that this first flight will now “pave the way for a wider fleet rollout later this year”. The airline says that it will equip all aircraft with Starlink in a phased rollout, beginning with aircraft flying to North America, followed by those serving European destinations.

Aer Lingus says it expects Starlink to be available across the airline’s long-haul fleet by the first quarter of next year. 

The airline says that it is providing Starlink connectivity on a complimentary basis on the flights it is available that speeds should be comparable to home internet at about 500 mbps. 

A Starlink antenna being installed on a Boeing 777.

Aer Lingus had announced its partnership with Starlink before Ryanair’s O’Leary had come out publicly to say that the budget carrier would not be doing the same. 

O’Leary claimed that the Starlink antenna adds “weight and drag” to flights and that this means its aircraft would have to burn more fuel, adding to overall cost. 

O’Leary’s claim that it could cause “a 2% fuel penalty” prompted particular scorn from Musk, who hurled personal insults at him and suggested buying Ryanair in revenge.