Latvian carrier airBaltic has been awarded the Best Wi-Fi in Europe for 2026 by APEX, the Airline Passenger Experience Association, one of the world’s largest and most respected international airline associations. What makes this recognition particularly significant is its methodology: the award is not determined by an industry panel or technical committee, but is based entirely on passenger ratings drawn from over one million flights across more than 600 airlines worldwide. In a competitive and fast-evolving aviation landscape, a passenger-voted accolade of this scale carries considerable weight.
The Starlink Advantage: Free, Fast, and First in Europe
The award comes directly on the heels of airBaltic’s landmark decision to become the first European airline to offer free high-speed Starlink internet onboard, a service it launched in February 2025. Powered by SpaceX’s Starlink low-Earth orbit satellite constellation, the service delivers high-speed, low-latency connectivity at cruising altitude, a stark contrast to the slow, expensive, and unreliable Wi-Fi that has long frustrated airline passengers across the continent.
By making the service not only available but completely free of charge, airBaltic removed the single biggest barrier to onboard internet adoption: cost. The move proved transformative, generating an overwhelmingly positive response from passengers and fundamentally changing expectations around what airline connectivity should look like.
A Word from the Airline’s Leadership
Thomas Ramdahl, Chief Commercial Officer at airBaltic, expressed the airline’s pride in the recognition while underlining what makes it especially meaningful. “We are honoured to receive the 2026 APEX Best Wi-Fi in Europe award, particularly as the first European carrier to introduce free Starlink internet onboard,” he said. “This recognition, based entirely on passenger feedback, is especially meaningful to us and reflects the strong response from our customers, many of whom highlight the convenience and reliability of the service.”
Ramdahl also pointed to a broader strategic dimension of the offering, noting that seamless onboard internet connectivity is increasingly influencing travel decisions. “The presence of seamless onboard internet also encourages customers to choose flying with us again,” he added, underlining the role of connectivity not merely as an amenity, but as a loyalty and retention driver in the modern airline business.
A Fourth APEX Award and a Remarkable Trajectory
This latest honour marks the fourth APEX award received by airBaltic, and when viewed alongside its previous recognitions, it tells a compelling story of consistent, accelerating improvement in passenger experience. In 2023, airBaltic was awarded the APEX Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe, recognising the quality of its onboard service and hospitality.
The airline then received the APEX Four Star Major Airline Award 2025, a broader endorsement of its overall passenger experience standards. Just a year later, it was elevated to the APEX Five Star Major Airline Award 2026, the association’s highest tier of recognition, reflecting the airline’s continued and measurable upward trajectory in service quality.
The progression from a cabin service award to a five-star rating and now a best-in-category connectivity award illustrates that airBaltic’s improvements are not confined to a single dimension of the passenger experience, but represent a holistic and sustained commitment to raising standards across the board.
Why This Award Matters for European Aviation
The Best Wi-Fi award arrives at a moment when onboard connectivity has shifted from a luxury feature to a baseline passenger expectation. Business travellers need to stay productive in the air. Leisure travellers want to share their journeys in real time. Families need entertainment options for children. In this environment, airlines that cannot deliver reliable, fast, and affordable internet are increasingly at a competitive disadvantage.
airBaltic’s decision to partner with Starlink and to absorb the cost entirely, offering the service free to all passengers, set a new benchmark for the European aviation market. Other carriers across the continent are now watching closely, and the APEX award has effectively validated the model as not just operationally sound, but genuinely valued by the travelling public.
Looking Ahead
With four APEX awards now to its name, including consecutive recognitions in 2025 and 2026, airBaltic has firmly established itself as one of Europe’s most passenger-centric carriers, a remarkable achievement for an airline that serves the Baltic region primarily and operates as a relatively compact network carrier. The airline’s willingness to invest in cutting-edge technology, make bold commercial decisions, and deliver on passenger expectations positions it well as the aviation industry enters an era where digital connectivity and service quality are as important as price and punctuality.
