Frontier Airlines recently held talks with SpaceX about adding Starlink Wi-Fi

Frontier Airlines "recently" held discussions with SpaceX astir adding its Starlink outer net to its planes and is much hopeful astir adding specified a work than successful erstwhile years, the carrier's CEO told CNBC Thursday.

Adding Starlink's Wi-Fi would beryllium a departure for the fund carrier, which doesn't presently connection inflight net service. CEO Barry Biffle says skipping Wi-Fi for present allows the bearer to beryllium much "green" due to the fact that it limits value connected board.

Representatives for SpaceX didn't instantly comment.

"The situation is I don't privation the value and I don't privation drag," Biffle said successful an interrogation connected the sidelines of an aerospace league successful Washington, D.C. "I don't transportation concern travelers."

Most large U.S. airlines connection Wi-Fi onboard for a fee, though galore are trying to amended the prime and little the cost.

Elon Musk's SpaceX is presently gathering its Starlink broadband network, which includes implicit 3,000 satellites successful orbit truthful acold and has astir 500,000 full customers — most of which are idiosyncratic consumers.

In June, the FCC authorized SpaceX to supply mobile Starlink net service to boats, planes and trucks. The institution precocious signed a woody with cruise enactment Royal Caribbean.

Denver-based Frontier has explored adding Wi-Fi connected committee earlier and often talks with different providers but, truthful far, hasn't been capable to warrant the cost. That's changing, Biffle said.

"We're much hopeful present that with Starlink coming successful there's going to beryllium immoderate rationalization of outgo and pricing," Biffle said. "When the terms gets inexpensive enough, I'll enactment it on."

He said the bearer doesn't person a timeline for adding net work connected committee and noted it could yet spouse with a antithetic provider.

Starlink inked its first deal to supply inflight net with a large bearer successful April with Hawaiian Airlines, a work that bearer said it would beryllium complimentary for passengers.

Biffle said Frontier would apt complaint for Wi-Fi connected board, erstwhile the work yet rolls out.

"I person nary ancillary products that don't marque money," helium said.