Southwest Airlines will be making the swap from its current Anuvu system over to Starlink for its inflight connectivity. The airline expects its first Starlink-equipped aircraft to take flight this summer, and hopes for 300 of its aircraft to be installed with the system by the end of 2026.
Southwest introduced free Wi-Fi in October 2025 across its fleet of approximately 800 aircraft. The carrier’s Anuvu-equipped aircraft, however, does not have sufficient bandwidth to support the new complimentary offering. The Starlink installation would solve this inconsistent passenger experience, while providing some of the best speeds in the world of IFC.
The Starlink swap will initially only involve these Anuvu-equipped aircraft, and the Viasat-equipped aircraft will not see the change for now. The airline will eventually offer “…high-speed, low-Earth-orbit satellite technology” on all aircraft, but whether that’s Starlink or a different provider is unclear.
“Free WiFi has been a huge hit with our Rapid Rewards Members, and we know our Customers expect seamless connectivity across all their devices when they travel,” said Tony Roach, Executive Vice President, Chief Customer & Brand Officer at Southwest Airlines. “Starlink delivers that at-home experience in the air, giving Customers the ability to stream their favorite shows from any platform, watch live sports, download music, play games, work, and connect with loved ones from takeoff to landing.”
Free Wi-Fi on Southwest requires signing up for its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. This aids the airline in its loyalty program signups, a model that many other U.S. carriers have adopted in recent years.
Either way, this is a welcome passenger experience upgrade for Southwest passengers. Despite the free offering, the inconsistency in Wi-Fi equipment across its fleet between Anuvu and Viasat meant an unpredictable connectivity offering when flying the airline. Starlink solves this gap, and Southwest joins United and Alaska in the United States in offering its impressive onboard connectivity speeds.
Featured image by the author.
