Iberia Completes Starlink Installation on 8 Long-Haul Aircraft

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 12, Iberia completed the installation of Starlink satellite internet equipment on its 8 Airbus A321XLR long-haul aircraft, with the last aircraft, registration EC-OIL, finishing retrofitting and departing the Madrid-La Muñoza maintenance base. With this, the entire fleet of this aircraft type is now equipped with Starlink network service capability, allowing passengers in both economy and business class to use high-speed inflight internet free of charge, with maximum connection speeds of up to 500 Mbps.

The 8 retrofitted aircraft primarily operate long-haul routes from Madrid to the Americas, covering the U.S. East Coast, northeastern Brazil and the Caribbean, with destinations including New York, Washington, Boston, Toronto, Recife, Fortaleza, Santo Domingo and San Juan, Puerto Rico. After boarding, passengers connect to the inflight network and log in using their email address or frequent flyer membership information to access the free internet service.

The onboard network uses the Starlink low Earth orbit satellite system operated by U.S.-based SpaceX. The system provides communication services via satellites deployed in low Earth orbit, supports simultaneous connections from multiple terminals, and can accommodate usage needs such as video streaming, online gaming and video calls. Iberia states a maximum network speed of 500 Mbps, with the service available to passengers in all cabin classes.

The last aircraft to complete installation, EC-OIL, was delivered on October 30, 2024, and is the world's first A321XLR delivered by Airbus and the first aircraft of this type received by Iberia. With this retrofit completed, the aircraft becomes the last of Iberia's 8 A321XLRs to be equipped with the Starlink network.

Starlink is also being expanded to Iberia's other long-haul aircraft types. Currently, some Airbus A350 and A330 aircraft have completed equipment installation. On June 24, 2026, Iberia operated a Madrid–São Paulo flight with an A330, putting Starlink into commercial service for the first time. The completion of the A321XLR fleet installation marks another milestone in the company's inflight connectivity retrofit program.

This equipment deployment is part of Iberia's 2030 development plan. The plan provides for an investment of €6 billion, covering fleet expansion, cabin retrofitting, digital services and passenger experience upgrades. The airline's fleet has grown from 43 aircraft at the plan's launch to 51, with a future target of approximately 70, while also advancing artificial intelligence applications, inflight catering service adjustments and cabin updates.