Lufthansa launches Starlink Wi-Fi on first Airbus A320neo as Russia expands rival satellite network

Lufthansa Group will equip its entire fleet with Starlink satellite internet, with the first aircraft—a Lufthansa Airbus A320neo—set to take off with the service on Aug. 19, the company announced on Monday. Passengers will be able to use high-speed Wi-Fi on personal devices for browsing, streaming, or remote work, with bandwidth exceeding many home or office connections, according to Lufthansa .
Swiss International Air Lines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa Group, will follow suit before the end of the first half of 2026, the company said .
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has become a key provider of in-flight connectivity, with Lufthansa among the first airlines worldwide to adopt the service. The move aligns with broader industry trends, as airlines seek to offer high-speed internet access during flights.
Meanwhile, Russia is accelerating the deployment of its own Starlink-like satellite network, Rassvet, according to Ukrainian military intelligence. Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence, told RBC-Ukraine on Monday that Russia has already launched 16 satellites for the system and plans to expand to 292 by 2027 and 924 by 2035 . One of the 16 satellites launched in March 2026 is already non-operational, leaving 15 active, as reported by Russian state-controlled newspaper Kommersant in June .
Skibitskyi stated that Rassvet currently operates intermittently when a satellite passes over Ukrainian territory but will function like Starlink once the full constellation is deployed. Ukrainian officials are discussing countermeasures, though no details were provided . Commander Robert Brovdi of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces described the system as a “risk for the entire planet,” warning that it could give a dictatorship global information access .
The development follows SpaceX’s decision in February to deactivate unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian forces in Ukraine, a move coordinated with Ukrainian authorities. Starlink has played a significant role in Ukraine’s military communications and drone operations since the start of the full-scale war .
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