According to Sawyer Merritt, reporting on PCMag, SpaceX executive Jonathan Hofeller confirmed at CES 2026 that Starlink inflight Wi-Fi will remain free for airline passengers through at least 2026 (source: PCMag). This strategic decision positions Starlink as a disruptive player in the aviation connectivity market, offering high-speed satellite internet as a competitive differentiator for airlines. For the AI industry, this move creates new opportunities for deploying real-time data analytics, entertainment, and onboard AI-powered services in aviation, leveraging Starlink’s low-latency network (source: PCMag). The announcement signals a shift towards more accessible and intelligent inflight experiences, opening up business opportunities for AI-driven passenger engagement, predictive maintenance, and operational efficiency solutions.