SpaceX says some travelers are skipping direct options just to fly on a plane with Starlink
SpaceX says some travelers are choosing multiple stops over direct routes to ensure they fly on a plane equipped with Starlink WiFi.
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell revealed at the company's Tuesday earnings call that customers are opting for shorter flights with Starlink internet capabilities, even if it means taking a longer travel time. MrBeast, a popular YouTuber, expressed his willingness to choose flights based on Starlink availability, despite potential extra layovers, praising the technology's significance.
The SpaceX president claimed that airlines have never before seen this trend in their business. While Business Insider contacted 13 airlines with Starlink agreements, none confirmed Shotwell's statement or verified the information. Delta, one of the contacted airlines, stated they do not have an agreement with SpaceX to use Starlink.
SpaceX also announced new partnerships with American Airlines, Southwest, Virgin Atlantic, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, as well as a new agreement to bring Starlink to 500 planes via American Airlines. The company's services generated $1.8 billion in quarterly revenue. SpaceX's first earnings call as a public company reported $7.8 billion in revenue, a 92% increase from the previous year, but the stock experienced a decline in value following the announcement.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
