--- title: "Debate erupts over value of in-flight Wi-Fi" url: https://daily.dev/posts/debate-erupts-over-value-of-in-flight-wi-fi-owvzqfkob source_url: https://techcentral.co.za/debate-erupts-over-value-of-in-flight-wi-fi/276689/ type: article source: "TechCentral" published: 2026-01-26T05:55:25.129Z updated: 2026-01-26T05:55:46.216Z reading_time: 3 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Debate erupts over value of in-flight Wi-Fi **[TechCentral](https://daily.dev/sources/techcentral)** · 3 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary clashed over in-flight Wi-Fi economics, highlighting a divide in aviation. Long-haul carriers increasingly view high-speed connectivity as essential for premium travelers, with Starlink costing roughly $170,000 per aircraft plus installation. Budget airlines like Ryanair question the value for short flights, citing added weight, fuel costs, and low passenger willingness to pay. While full-service carriers adopt freemium models to attract loyalty, short-haul operators remain skeptical that price-conscious passengers would pay even €1-2 for connectivity on brief journeys. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Wizz Air to put Starlink Wi-Fi on its planes from 2027](https://daily.dev/posts/wizz-air-to-put-starlink-wi-fi-on-its-planes-from-2027-iqsugholu) · The Next Web · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Starlink price rise ‘reckless’, says Correnti](https://daily.dev/posts/starlink-price-rise-reckless-says-correnti-rgcq7mxpj) · Hacker News · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [SpaceX’s Starlink secures more spectrum and airlines as it passes 8 million customers](https://daily.dev/posts/spacex-s-starlink-secures-more-spectrum-and-airlines-as-it-passes-8-million-customers-k1jhv66gg) · TechCrunch · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/debate-erupts-over-value-of-in-flight-wi-fi-owvzqfkob)