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Virgin Atlantic Taps Boeing to Equip 787s for Starlink Wi‑Fi, Eyes 2026–27 Rollout

The program uses Boeing’s Aerodynamic Shroud for ESA antennas to integrate Starlink hardware, targeting low‑latency, streaming‑quality service.

Overview

  • Boeing and Virgin Atlantic announced at MRO Europe on October 15 a services agreement to retrofit the airline’s 787 Dreamliners for high-speed in‑flight connectivity.
  • Virgin Atlantic will integrate SpaceX’s Starlink hardware to deliver low‑latency, high‑bandwidth Wi‑Fi suitable for streaming, video calls and browsing.
  • Boeing will supply OEM engineering and a new Aerodynamic Shroud to house Electronically Steered Phased Array antennas that support LEO and multi‑orbit links.
  • PAX International reports Virgin Atlantic will be the first U.K. airline customer of Starlink Aviation, with installations on 787s, A350s and A330neos beginning in Q3 2026 and concluding by the end of 2027.
  • PAX International also reports Flying Club members will receive complimentary access after activation, with streaming enabled on A330‑300 and A350‑1000, while the original announcement did not specify regulatory milestones or an official start date.