KLM to fit Starlink Wi-Fi on long-haul jets; Air France adds two US routes

KLM has announced a deal with Starlink to bring high-speed Wi-Fi to its long-haul fleet, with installation starting in summer 2027. Separately, Air France has revealed new summer 2027 services to Nashville and San Diego, which go on sale on 14 October. Both stories were reported by Head for Points on 13 October 2026.

KLM's Starlink rollout

According to Head for Points, the Starlink system will be installed only on KLM's long-haul aircraft. The short-haul fleet will keep its existing Viasat Wi-Fi, which is free to use but considerably slower than Starlink.

The site notes that the decision has taken a while, as sister airline Air France is due to finish its own Starlink installation by the end of 2026, before any KLM aircraft has been converted. Head for Points also comments that the Air France-KLM group appears to be positioning the two carriers differently, with Air France as the more premium brand. It cites the latest Skytrax awards, in which Air France ranked seventh in the world, Lufthansa 14th, British Airways 23rd and KLM 24th.

Air France's new US routes

Head for Points reports that both new routes will launch in May 2027 and operate three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, using an Airbus A350-900.

• San Diego: starts on 3 May.
• Nashville: starts on 14 May.

Both are summer-only services, running until the winter timetable begins in late October. The outlet notes that British Airways was the first European airline to fly to Nashville and that the route appears to be doing well.

With the additions, Air France will serve 20 US destinations in summer 2027: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York JFK, New York Newark, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

What this means for travellers

• Wi-Fi: KLM long-haul passengers should get faster connectivity from summer 2027, but the rollout is only starting then, so not every aircraft will be equipped immediately. A full completion date was not given in the source. Short-haul flights keep the slower free Viasat service.
• Booking: Air France cash fares for Nashville and San Diego should be bookable from 14 October, though Head for Points says reward seats may not appear straight away.
• Points: as Air France is in SkyTeam, the flights can be booked with Virgin Points. Head for Points suggests partner business class is generally better value than redeeming on Virgin Atlantic itself since it introduced dynamic pricing.
• Planning: with only three weekly flights, on fixed days, itineraries need some flexibility. For comparison, see our Lufthansa vs Air France guide.

The source does not say which KLM aircraft types will be converted first or whether Starlink access will be free.

Sources: Head for Points.