Slate Aviation's Starlink bet lands right as the price doubled

Slate Aviation, a private aviation operator, announced on Nov. 10 that it will be installing Starlink on its entire fleet. Installations begin in December and the connectivity is expected to be aboard every Slate aircraft in early 2027. Starlink uses a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system for connectivity. LEO satellites fly lower than the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) systems that typically serve older jets, which dramatically shortens signal latency. Starlink satellites orbit roughly 550 km up, while GEO satellites sit around 35,800 km. That shorter distance allows faster speeds that support video calls, live streaming and cloud access from the cabin. "At Slate Aviation, we are always looking for ways to make the journey more personal and more rewarding for our owners and members," said Slate Aviation CEO and Co-Owner, Heather Maguire. "Connectivity is now part of how people live in the air as much as on the ground, and Starlink was the clear choice. We are proud to install it across our fleet, so that every flight with Slate offers the same fast, dependable connection." SpaceX restructured its Starlink Business Aviation pricing in August, doubling the cost of two existing plans and adding a new mid-tier option. The Aviation Regional 25GB plan now costs $4,000 per month, up from $2,000. The Aviation Regional Unlimited plan, a new addition, costs $12,500 per month. The Aviation Global Unlimited plan now costs $20,000 per month, up from $10,000. Existing customers were automatically moved to the new plans on their next billing cycle after Aug. 7. Why it matters In the not-too-distant past, high-speed internet connectivity was viewed as a luxury feature for flights. Today, passengers increasingly expect the same high-speed internet that they are accustomed to on the ground. Slate Aviation's decision to equip its entire fleet shows how reliable broadband is now being viewed as part of the standard ownership experience, as opposed to a premium feature and a ‘nice to have'. Starlink isn't the only option raising that floor: PlaneSense is putting Gogo Galileo on all 71 of its Pilatus aircraft. Operators who still treat satellite Wi-Fi as optional have less room to make that argument, and less excuse not to shop plans carefully given how far SpaceX's own pricing moved in August.