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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Stock Market devider Cebu Pacific partners with Elon Musk's Starlink for high-speed inflight Wi-Fi

Cebu Pacific partners with Elon Musk's Starlink for high-speed inflight Wi-Fi

Published Jul 14, 2026 05:54 pm
Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific will become the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to equip its fleet with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet, part of a massive joint order by the global budget airline investor to bring high-speed Wi-Fi to more than 1,000 aircraft.
In a statement on Tuesday, Cebu Pacific said the carrier expects to begin rolling out the high-speed, low-latency connectivity service in 2027. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The initiative is part of a coordinated deployment by Indigo Partners LLC, the private equity firm led by billionaire Bill Franke that holds stakes in budget airlines across the globe.
Under the agreement, Cebu Pacific alongside fellow Indigo portfolio carriers—Frontier Airlines in the United States (US), Wizz Air Holdings Plc in Europe, Volaris in Mexico, and JetSMART in South America—will install the next-generation satellite system on their aircraft. The combined commitment represents one of the largest single orders for inflight internet connectivity in the aviation industry.
Airlines are increasingly turning to low-Earth orbit satellite constellations like Starlink to replace legacy, often unreliable satellite systems. Starlink’s technology allows passengers to stream high-definition video, play online games, and access enterprise applications at speeds comparable to ground-based broadband.
Beyond the cabin, Cebu Pacific plans to use the system to improve real-time communication for its flight crews and operations teams, aiming to boost operational efficiency and reduce delays.
The digital upgrade comes as Cebu Pacific undergoes an aggressive multi-billion peso fleet expansion. The airline is currently modernizing its fleet to build one of the youngest and largest aircraft lineups in the region, betting that premium digital amenities will help it capture a larger share of the surging travel demand in Southeast Asia.
“Introducing Starlink marks another important step in delivering a better travel experience,” Xander Lao, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Cebu Pacific, said. “Reliable, high-speed connectivity has become an expectation for today's travelers.”
Indigo Managing Partner Bill Franke said the direct system management provided by Starlink will ensure reliable, high-speed connectivity across all five network airlines, allowing the ultra-low-cost carriers to maintain low fares while improving passenger comfort.

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