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Starlink Lifts WestJet Near the Top for In‑Flight Wi‑Fi as Air Canada Falls Behind

Starlink’s low‑orbit satellites deliver faster, more reliable in‑flight internet than legacy geostationary systems.

Overview

  • Ookla’s latest analysis of more than 50 airlines ranks WestJet second worldwide for in‑flight Wi‑Fi consistency at 95.8%, with Air Canada sixth at 84.6%.
  • Performance splits on speed are stark, with WestJet posting about 252 Mbps median downloads versus roughly 55 Mbps on Air Canada.
  • The report ties the gap to network choice, as WestJet uses Starlink’s low‑Earth‑orbit service and Air Canada relies on Intelsat’s geostationary network.
  • Nearly all carriers above 100 Mbps median speed ran Starlink, and no other provider reached triple‑digit medians in the period Ookla measured.
  • Ookla judged “good” service using a 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up threshold, and found newer Wi‑Fi 6 routers on planes markedly boost results over older Wi‑Fi 4 gear.