Elon Musk's Starlink internet integration on Citation Latitude aircraft by Textron Aviation
In a significant move for the aviation industry, Textron Aviation has announced the introduction of Elon Musk's Starlink high-speed internet service on its Cessna Citation Latitude aircraft. This development was unveiled on September 15, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas, as part of the Cessna Citation Ascend program.
The announcement follows an earlier decision by Textron Aviation to equip its Cessna Citation Sovereign and Sovereign+ aircraft with Starlink, a decision made public in July 2025.
The Starlink connectivity upgrade on Citation Latitude aircraft aims to provide a seamless, high-speed in-flight experience. This enhancement, according to Brian Rohloff, Senior Vice President of Customer Support at Textron Aviation, elevates the Latitude's reputation as the world's most-delivered midsize business jet.
However, the rollout of Starlink has not been without its challenges. On September 15, 2025, a global outage impacted Starlink users worldwide, including those on the Ukrainian front lines, with over 43,000 reports of connectivity issues in North America, Europe, and Asia. This outage followed an earlier incident on July 24, 2025, when Starlink customers, including major airlines, experienced an outage for around two and a half hours due to an internal issue.
Despite these issues, Textron Aviation remains committed to offering Starlink as a new connectivity option. Customers can arrange for the Starlink upgrade to be installed at Textron Aviation Service Centers in North America and International Service Centers.
The Starlink service utilizes a network of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, as approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through AeroMech's Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). This technology is designed to provide connectivity over land, water, and remote areas.
While occasional disruptions have been reported with the Starlink service, the promise of high-speed, reliable internet connectivity during flights is undeniably appealing to many in the aviation industry and beyond. As Textron Aviation continues to roll out the service, it will be interesting to see how these challenges are addressed and whether the benefits of the service outweigh the occasional disruptions.
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