Starlink Wi-Fi on Royal Air Maroc, a first in Africa

The national carrier will equip 41 of its aircraft with Starlink, the satellite internet connectivity solution from SpaceX’s dedicated subsidiary. According to the announcement, the service will be available free of charge to all members of the Safar Flyer programme. The airline presents the move as a major step in overhauling the passenger experience.

Beyond the announcement effect, we wanted to understand what this agreement really changes, for travellers and for the airline, and what it still leaves unresolved.

A project that has accelerated

In-flight Wi-Fi is not a new idea at Royal Air Maroc. According to the specialist press, the airline was considering in 2025 a rollout of the service by 2028, alongside the delivery of around a hundred new Boeing aircraft. The timeline has since been brought forward.

The move towards Starlink was preceded by several months of talks. According to information reported by Africa Intelligence and then picked up by Moroccan media, the airline reportedly judged the initial price too high. Technical trials were also carried out on several aircraft before the agreement was concluded. Neither Royal Air Maroc nor Starlink has commented in detail on these points, and we present them as such.

Another factor weighed on the negotiations. When several airlines serve the same air corridors with the same network, the risks of interference and slowdowns require more recent equipment for the latest entrants. Royal Air Maroc shares several of its routes with Air France, which announced its own partnership with Starlink in late 2024.

What a low-orbit constellation changes

To understand the appeal of this technology, a reminder is useful. Conventional in-flight Wi-Fi most often relies on geostationary satellites, located about 36,000 kilometres from Earth. The signal has to travel a considerable distance, which causes high latency and often disappointing speeds.

Starlink relies on a different principle. Its constellation comprises several thousand satellites orbiting a few hundred kilometres up. The signal travels a much shorter path, which reduces response time and makes possible uses that were hardly comfortable in flight until now: video calls, video conferencing, sending large files, streaming.

The airline highlights an ultra-fast, uninterrupted connection, made possible, in its words, by the world’s most powerful constellation. That wording is commercial communication. Actual performance will depend on the installed equipment, the number of passengers connected at the same time and the route flown. Several Moroccan media outlets mention speeds of up to 250 Mb/s on board, a figure best seen as a theoretical ceiling rather than an average.

Safar Flyer, a revealing commercial choice

The decision to reserve free access for Safar Flyer members deserves a closer look. It does not make Wi-Fi a service open to all passengers, but it turns it into a loyalty lever. To benefit, a traveller must be enrolled in the programme, which encourages sign-ups and feeds the airline’s customer database.

The approach is not unprecedented. Air France reserves its free Starlink Wi-Fi for holders of a Flying Blue account, while other carriers, such as Qatar Airways, have offered it free to all passengers. Royal Air Maroc therefore sits in an intermediate position, combining a commercial gesture with data capture.

Several practical questions remain to be clarified: how passengers will access the service on board, possible limits on speed or duration depending on travel class, and whether a non-member can purchase a paid plan.

An African first, but with nuances

The headline “a first in Africa” is accurate, provided it is qualified. According to the press, Royal Air Maroc becomes the first airline on the continent to deploy Starlink on board. It is not the first to offer Wi-Fi in flight. Ethiopian Airlines already provides a connection on some flights, but with a different satellite system, in the Ka band.

The nuance matters, because it places the Moroccan initiative within a global movement. According to specialist media, Royal Air Maroc would be the 48th airline to announce the installation of Starlink, after Air France, the Lufthansa Group airlines or Qatar Airways. High-speed Wi-Fi is gradually becoming a differentiating factor in air transport, particularly on long-haul routes and on services with a large business clientele.

Key figures

• 41 aircraft in the fleet will be equipped with the Starlink solution.
• The service will be free for all members of the Safar Flyer programme.
• The press mentions coverage of the entire fleet by 2027, without detailed confirmation from the airline.
• Royal Air Maroc operates a fleet of about 70 aircraft, mostly Boeings, according to specialist media.

What is at stake for the airline

The stakes are first commercial. Royal Air Maroc aims to significantly expand its network and its fleet, with an eye on increased traffic linked to major sporting events, including the 2030 World Cup that Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. In this context, the on-board experience becomes an argument against better-equipped European and Gulf competitors.

The stakes are also about image. A country that displays digital, industrial and aeronautical ambitions finds in its national airline a showcase. Offering connectivity comparable to that of the major international carriers contributes to that image, provided the quality of service lives up to it.

Finally, the stakes are strategic. Relying on a single supplier, a subsidiary of an American group led by Elon Musk, inevitably raises the question of technological and contractual dependence. This concern is not specific to Royal Air Maroc: it runs through the whole sector, where Starlink is advancing rapidly. Supporters of the solution point out that few alternatives today offer such a level of performance with global coverage. Critics note that concentration around a single player reduces airlines’ bargaining power in the long run.

What remains to be clarified

Several points still call for official answers. The precise installation timeline, aircraft by aircraft, has not been detailed. The fate of the rest of the fleet, beyond the 41 aircraft announced, remains to be specified. The financial terms of the agreement have not been made public, nor have the conditions of use for non-member passengers.

The quality of the service over time will also need to be observed. Experience from other airlines shows that speeds vary depending on routes and user density. The promise of an uninterrupted connection will be judged by real flights, far more than on paper.

An advance to be confirmed in flight

I see in this agreement a concrete advance for Royal Air Maroc’s frequent travellers, and a signal of ambition for the African aviation sector. It remains to be seen whether the airline will manage to extend the service to its entire fleet and make it an accessible standard, rather than an advantage reserved for one category of passengers. The answer will be found in the rollout schedules, the quality measured on board and the pricing policy the airline will eventually make public.

FAQ

Who will be able to use Starlink Wi-Fi free of charge on Royal Air Maroc?

According to the announcement, all members of the Safar Flyer programme. The conditions applying to other passengers have not been specified.

How many aircraft will be equipped?

The airline announces 41 aircraft. The press mentions coverage of the whole fleet by 2027, which Royal Air Maroc has not detailed publicly.

Is Royal Air Maroc the first African airline to offer in-flight Wi-Fi?

No. Ethiopian Airlines already offers a connection on some flights, with a different technology. Royal Air Maroc is, however, the first on the continent to deploy Starlink.

What is the difference from traditional in-flight Wi-Fi?

Starlink uses low-orbit satellites, which are closer to Earth. Response times are shorter and speeds are higher than with geostationary satellites.