Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

SpaceX sent an email to customers yesterday announcing higher pricing for aviation plans on its Starlink low-earth-orbit satcom network, effective August 7. According to SpaceX, “As the number of airplanes connected by Starlink continues to grow, we are committed to providing reliable, high-speed service plans that meet the needs of aviators all over the world.”
The biggest change is for the former unlimited plan, which worked on a global basis and was priced at $10,000 per month. Starting August 7, the new Aviation Global Unlimited service costs $20,000 per month, with service speeds of up to 1 Gbps. SpaceX requires the Starlink Aviation Performance kit to get the 1 Gbps speeds on this plan but has not yet provided details on the kit’s cost or what it includes.
For $12,500 per month, the new Aviation Regional Unlimited plan offers speeds of up to 500 Mbps but is limited to “the continent associated with your service area, designed for operations within a single continental region,” according to SpaceX.
The former $2,000-per-month plan, with no geographic limitations, included 20 GB per month, and customers could pay $100 per GB for more data. The new monthly price for this level is $4,000 per month and includes 25 GB, with additional data costing $250 per GB, and it is limited to a single continental region.
The owner of a large-cabin jet, who was among the early adopters of Starlink’s aviation service, is finding it difficult to justify the increased cost. “We were one of the first to install Starlink in [our jet], and that’s a $300,000 capital investment,” he told AIN. “Now they’re forcing us to spend three to four times what we budgeted [for connectivity].”
This owner’s chief pilot has contacted SpaceX about the price increases, and the response was, “If you don’t like it, you can cancel.” His company was using the $2,000 per month service, which worked well for a jet that flies about 200 hours a year, including a handful of overseas trips to Europe. With the new billing cycle starting August 7, that amount will double, and he won’t be able to use Starlink for international trips. “It’s kind of crazy,” he said. “I don’t want to spend $240,000 for something [global unlimited] I use a few times a year.”
He suggested that Starlink ought to offer a way to switch on international service only when needed, similar to what it does for maritime customers once they travel further than 12 nm offshore. “If we had a toggle switch and could pay whatever the per-gigabyte price is while flying to Europe, that would be easier to swallow,” he said. “But now they’re saying, ‘We’re going to geolock you to the U.S. and double your rate, and [even more] for overseas travel.’”

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

SpaceX Doubles Starlink Aviation Prices and Adds Continental Boundaries

New service plans distinguish between a single area and global coverage

Starlink’s new price for the former unlimited plan, which worked on a global basis and was priced at $10,000 per month, is $20,000 a month and starts August 7.

Starlink Doubles Aviation Prices, Adds Region Boundaries

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

HDX antenna installed under the tail-mounted radome

Gogo Galileo Now Available for Gulfstream G650/G650ER

Jessica Reed

System is FAA- and EASA-certified

Gogo Galileo Satcom Now Factory Option on Pilatus PC-24

Charles Alcock

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The SkyOS autonomous operating system will be integrated with the single-engine rotorcraft

Skyryse and Robinson Develop Uncrewed R66 Helicopter

Amy Wilder

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

12-year inspection, landing gear overhaul, and a series of cabin and avionics upgrades included

Nomad Technics Completes BBJ Maintenance, Cabin Refresh

Antenna attachment system securely holds antenna in place

Boost Cargo Baskets Fitted with Starlink Mini Mount

HDX antenna provides download speeds up to 60 Mbps

Dassault Gets STC for Gogo Galileo on Falcon 7X/8X

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Reimagined interior emphasizes natural light and a warm color palette

Elie Saab Designs Bespoke Cabin for Global 8000 Jet

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

In this article

SpaceX

More In Cabin Interior and Electronics