Virgin Atlantic took connectivity to new heights with a special live performance from the iconic girl group Sugababes. Live from 35,000 ft, the moment was streamed in real time to audiences around the world using Starlink Wi-Fi.
Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy took to the skies performing fan-favourite tracks including Push The Button, Too Lost in You and About You Now alongside an exclusive onboard Q+A, with fans tuning in to submit requests via the livestream. The gig took place in the Upper Class social space, The Loft, on Virgin Atlantic’s A350 aircraft and was streamed globally via Starlink — the world’s most advanced satellite constellation using a low-Earth orbit to deliver in-flight Wi-Fi. For one night only, the cabin transformed into a stage above the clouds – connecting music, technology and audiences worldwide in a unique inflight performance.
With thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, Starlink delivered multi-gigabit connectivity to aircraft using its Aero Terminal, which can support up to 1 Gbps per antenna. Beyond this moment, the new Wi-Fi transformed the experience for customers enabling them to stream, browse, shop, game, work, take brief audio calls and message seamlessly across multiple devices, whether traveling in Virgin Atlantic’s Economy, Premium or Upper Class cabin.
Virgin Atlantic is now rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet, starting with the Airbus A350s, with the programme extending across the Boeing 787 and Airbus A330neo aircraft, as installation progresses. The airline plans to deliver full fleet connectivity in 2027.
Powered by thousands of satellites, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet globally, including oceans, and remote areas, creating a seamless, reliable and secure gate-to-gate connectivity experience on routes including North America, the Caribbean,
Nigeria and the Maldives. Supporting Virgin Atlantic’s ambition to create the best experience in the sky, the introduction of Starlink Wi-Fi enables customers to truly bring their world onboard by staying connected to their plans, their people and the moments that matter, without interruption, in a world that no longer waits at the runway.
Juha Jaervinen, Chief Customer Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented:
“This isn’t just about introducing Wi-Fi, it’s about showing what it can do. By livestreaming a performance from 35,000ft, we’re demonstrating the power of Starlink to deliver a seamless, high-quality connection in the air, just as our customers expect on the ground.
“Sugababes are an iconic part of British culture, bringing generations together through their music, so they’re the perfect partners for a moment like this, connecting people in the air and on the ground in real time. As we roll out Starlink Wi-Fi across our fleet, this is just the beginning of a more connected, more flexible onboard experience.”
The Sugababes said:
“We always said the sky was the limit – turns out, it’s just the beginning! Taking live music to the skies and turning an airplane into a global stage is unlike anything we’ve ever done. The idea that fans around the world can experience it with us in real time makes it even more surreal. We can’t wait to make history at 35,000 feet. See you above the clouds.”
