Cover Staying connected at 35,000 feet—today’s in-flight wifi means the view isn’t the only thing worth looking out for. (Photo: Wirestock / Freepik)
Staying connected at 35,000 feet—today’s in-flight wifi means the view isn’t the only thing worth looking out for. (Photo: Wirestock / Freepik)
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Ookla’s latest report spotlights Asia’s top performer in in-flight wifi, as connectivity becomes a key travel feature
In-flight wifi has long been the bane of air travellers, as it has generally always been unreliable, overpriced and painfully slow. But according to a new 2025 report from Ookla, some airlines are starting to get it right. While US and Middle Eastern carriers lead the pack, one Asian airline now delivers wifi speeds fast enough for real-time streaming. The rest, including some of Asia’s most prestigious names, have work to do. With satellite tech evolving rapidly, the sky is becoming the next connectivity battleground.
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Which airline has the fastest in-flight wifi?
Asia’s most luxurious carriers may have mastered hospitality, but when it comes to in-flight wifi, most are still lagging in the digital age. According to Ookla’s Q1 2025 Speedtest Intelligence report, Qatar Airways leads the wifi game globally with a median download speed of 120.6 Mbps, thanks to its rollout of Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellite network. That places it alongside Hawaiian Airlines as the only two truly high-performing global players.
Singapore Airlines’s in-flight wifi ranks 13th globally, with a median download speed of 25.55 Mbps—respectable, but far from transformative. EVA Air and ANA follow close behind, with 24.79 Mbps and 23.74 Mbps, respectively. Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines trail further, at 17.06 Mbps and 15.31 Mbps, putting them well into the bottom half of the rankings.
These carriers primarily rely on GEO satellite systems or outdated LTE ground-to-air networks. That results in higher latency—often upwards of 700 milliseconds—making anything beyond email or messaging a test of patience. By contrast, Starlink’s LEO satellites deliver vastly improved latency at just 44 ms, enabling smoother video calls, cloud work and real-time streaming.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
