Royal Air Maroc plans to install SpaceX's Starlink satellite Wi-Fi on 41 aircraft, with the first installations expected in early 2027. The Moroccan flag carrier says it will be the first airline in Africa to offer Starlink on board.
The airline announced the plan on October 7, French aviation site Air Journal reported, and AeroTime covered the deal on October 11. Royal Air Maroc said internet access will be free for members of its Safar Flyer loyalty program.
What the airline has announced
Starlink uses a network of satellites in low Earth orbit to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet. On equipped aircraft, Royal Air Maroc says passengers will be able to stream video, message and work online during the flight.
The rollout will be gradual. According to Air Journal, the airline said installations will be scheduled so as not to disrupt operations. It has not said which aircraft types will be fitted first, which routes will get the service first, or when all 41 aircraft will be equipped. It also has not set out the terms for passengers who are not Safar Flyer members.
"Royal Air Maroc's decision to introduce Starlink to its fleet marks an important milestone for aviation in Africa," said Lauren Dreyer, vice president of commercial operations for Starlink at SpaceX, in the airline's announcement, as quoted by Air Journal.
Which aircraft could be fitted
Royal Air Maroc did not list the aircraft in the program. AeroTime noted that it appears likely to include the long-haul fleet of 13 Boeing 787s, a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s, as well as a large part of the airline's 47 Boeing 737s. That narrowbody fleet includes 27 737-800s and 20 737 MAX 8s, with another 14 MAX 8s awaiting delivery, according to AeroTime.
The airline's 787s are already in line for an upgrade. Earlier this month, Royal Air Maroc signed a deal with Boeing to fully refurbish the cabins on its seven 787-8s.
Part of a wider modernization
Chief executive Hamid Addou framed Starlink as one piece of a broader plan. "This ambition is part of a multi-year plan that includes fleet renewal, a redesign of the cabins and a complete modernization of the customer experience, both on the ground and on board," he said in the October 7 announcement, as quoted by Air Journal.
That plan is backed by a program contract signed with the Moroccan state in July 2023, which sets a target of 200 aircraft by 2037. Royal Air Maroc passed 70 aircraft at the end of September 2026 and aims to reach 74 by the end of this year and 88 in 2027, according to Air Journal. In April 2024 it was reported that the airline was looking to acquire 200 aircraft, but no large new order has followed so far, AeroTime noted.
The carrier's strategy is to build Casablanca into a connecting hub between Africa, Europe and North America. Fast onboard internet has become a competitive tool on exactly those kinds of long flows, where passengers compare airlines on comfort as well as price.
Starlink's growing airline footprint
Royal Air Maroc joins a fast-growing list of airlines choosing Starlink. In recent weeks, American Airlines said it would put Starlink on its entire mainline fleet from early 2027, United set a target of more than 1,000 mainline jets by May 2027, and KLM picked Starlink for free Wi-Fi on intercontinental flights from mid-2027.
Qatar Airways began offering Starlink in October 2024 and said in January 2026 that close to 120 widebody aircraft were equipped across its Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleets, Air Journal noted.
What it means for passengers
For now, nothing changes on board: the service is not expected to start until the first aircraft are fitted in early 2027. Once it does, travelers on equipped Royal Air Maroc flights who join Safar Flyer should get free, high-speed internet, a notable step up for routes to and from Casablanca.
Passengers who want the service will need to watch for updates on which aircraft and routes are fitted first, since the airline has not yet published a schedule.
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