Lufthansa Group to Retain Current IFC Until Starlink Pivot Is Complete

Summary

Lufthansa Group announced a fleet‑wide shift to SpaceX Starlink, planning rollout from late 2026 to 2029, while retaining its existing inflight connectivity (IFC) systems—Viasat’s European Aviation Network (EAN) on narrow‑bodies and Panasonic’s multi‑orbit solution on some A330s—until Starlink is fully implemented. The airline’s silence on the exact mix of aircraft reflects a new market trend toward shorter, more flexible IFC contracts that allow rapid technology pivots. Viasat emphasized its continued support for EAN despite Lufthansa’s planned defection, and regulatory shifts in the UK’s 2 GHz band add pressure on legacy satellite solutions. Lufthansa’s own MRO unit, Lufthansa Technik, is developing a vertical‑stabilizer radome for Starlink antennas, but no internal installations are scheduled yet.