United Airlines has announced plans to start testing Starlink on flights in February, and later add SpaceX’s satellite internet service to its entire fleet. The company first announced its partnership with SpaceX to “set a new standard for in-flight connectivity” in September 2024.
After testing, United expects the first commercial flight with Starlink to take place in the spring on a United Embraer E-175. The rest of the airline’s “two-cabin regional fleet” will be equipped with Starlink during 2025, and United says that “the first Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft will take flight” before the end of the year.
Starlink will be available free of charge to all United MileagePlus members. In addition to improving the quality of in-flight Wi-Fi, United sees Starlink as an opportunity to “unlock new partnerships” for its members. Don’t be surprised to see United enter into new deals with streaming services to offer more free content during flights.
United joins Delta and Hawaiian Airlines in partnering with Starlink to provide Wi-Fi onboard aircraft. SpaceX initially announced its intentions to offer 350 Mbps internet speeds on board in 2022, and Delta and Hawaiian Airlines have either tested Starlink or committed to offering it on their aircraft.
Over the past year, Starlink has expanded significantly. SpaceX tested Starlink’s satellite-based direct communication service with T-Mobile during Hurricane Milton in the United States, planned a larger beta test of the service for February, and launched a nationwide satellite text messaging service in New Zealand.
