Inflight WiFi Speed: Provider Comparison
Real Mbps numbers for every major inflight WiFi provider — what you can actually do at 35,000 feet.
Starlink (United, Hawaiian) is 5–10× faster than old Gogo and 3× faster than Viasat-2. For streaming and video calls, fly Starlink if you can. JetBlue Fly-Fi (Viasat) is a strong second. Gogo ATG regional jets are email-only territory.
Provider Speed Breakdown
Starlink Aviation
Best in classViasat-3
Strong for browsing & streamingViasat-2
Adequate for most browsingGogo 2Ku
Functional but agingGogo ATG
Email onlyPanasonic eXConnect
Declining — being replacedWhat Speed Do You Need?
| Activity | Min Speed | Compatible Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Email / Slack | 0.5 Mbps | All providers |
| Web Browsing | 2 Mbps | Gogo ATG+ |
| Zoom Video Call | 3 Mbps ↑↓ | Viasat+, Starlink |
| Netflix HD | 5 Mbps | Viasat+, Starlink |
| Netflix 4K | 15 Mbps | Starlink, Viasat-3 |
| Online Gaming | <80 ms latency | Starlink only |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is Starlink WiFi on planes?
Starlink Aviation delivers 40–220 Mbps download with latency of 20–40 ms. On United and Hawaiian, passengers routinely measure 80–120 Mbps — enough for 4K streaming, video calls, and gaming simultaneously.
How fast is Viasat inflight WiFi?
Viasat-2 aircraft (Delta, American, JetBlue, Alaska) average 15–50 Mbps with 600–800 ms latency. Viasat-3 retrofits, starting in 2025, push speeds closer to 150 Mbps and cut latency significantly.
How fast is Gogo inflight WiFi?
Gogo 2Ku satellite hardware averages 8–25 Mbps with 600 ms+ latency. Older Gogo ATG (air-to-ground) hardware on regional jets is 1–3 Mbps — barely enough for email. Gogo 5G (ground-based) delivers 20–60 Mbps with much lower latency on equipped routes.
What speed do you need to stream video on a plane?
Netflix recommends 5 Mbps for HD, 15 Mbps for 4K. Zoom video calls need about 3 Mbps up/down. Most Starlink-equipped flights comfortably handle all three. On Viasat-2 and Gogo 2Ku, HD streaming usually works but 4K may buffer. On Gogo ATG, skip streaming — browse only.
Does plane WiFi speed change during the flight?
Yes. Satellite WiFi is shared bandwidth — speed can drop during peak hours (morning rush, transcon redeyes). Gogo ATG drops out entirely over oceans. Starlink and Viasat maintain signal over most routes but can slow when many passengers connect at once.
Which airline has the fastest WiFi?
United and Hawaiian Airlines (Starlink) consistently measure the fastest speeds — 80–200 Mbps on equipped aircraft. JetBlue Fly-Fi (Viasat) is also strong, typically 20–60 Mbps. Delta on Viasat averages 15–40 Mbps. American Airlines (mixed Viasat/Panasonic) varies widely by aircraft.