WestJet vs Air Canada: Starlink Wi-Fi Delivers Much Faster Speeds

For as long as it has been available, in-flight Wi-Fi has been more of a frustration than a feature, often too slow to handle even basic browsing. But that’s starting to change, at least for some airlines. In Canada, the gap between the country’s two largest carriers, WestJet and Air Canada, is becoming increasingly clear when it comes to onboard connectivity. According to a recent study from Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, both airlines perform well when it comes to offering “usable” internet across their fleets. More than 95% of WestJet aircraft meet the benchmark for reliable connectivity—defined as at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds—while Air Canada isn’t far behind, with over 80% of its fleet reaching that threshold. However, when it comes to actual performance, WestJet has surged far ahead. The airline delivers median download speeds of around 252 Mbps, compared to Air Canada’s roughly 55 Mbps. That difference is significant enough to change how passengers use Wi-Fi in the air—shifting from basic messaging and email to high-bandwidth activities like streaming video or even online gaming. The reason behind the gap largely comes down to technology. WestJet has partnered with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network, deploying the low-Earth orbit (LEO) system across its fleet in collaboration with Telus. The rollout began in 2024 and is expected to be completed across its Boeing 737 aircraft. Air Canada, by contrast, continues to rely on Intelsat, a more traditional satellite provider (although is shifting to Eutelsat Oneweb, and Starlink for regional flights). While still capable of delivering solid speeds, the system operates at much higher orbital distances, which can introduce latency and limit peak performance compared to Starlink’s newer infrastructure. And it is not just Westjet – airlines using Starlink consistently rank among the top performers globally, with many achieving both higher speeds and more consistent connectivity. In fact, the only airlines that exceed 150 Mbps median download speeds are now powered by Starlink, highlighting a growing shift toward LEO-based solutions. WestJet’s improvement has been especially notable. Just a year ago, its median speeds were under 40 Mbps. The jump to over 250 Mbps represents a dramatic leap, effectively allowing the airline to overtake Air Canada in a key area of the passenger experience. For travellers, in-flight connectivity is quickly becoming a deciding factor when choosing an airline, especially on longer routes where passengers expect to stay connected for work or entertainment. And so far, Starlink is proving itself to be the clear leader in delivering fast, consistent, and high-capacity in-flight internet that rivals connectivity on the ground.