United Airlines has announced that it is preparing to roll out Elon Musk’s Starlink-powered Wi-Fi service on flights beginning Thursday, May 15. This marks a significant step toward modernizing in-flight connectivity for United’s passengers.
The cutting-edge satellite internet service will first be introduced across United’s United Express regional aircraft, with a wider installation planned for the airline’s long-haul fleet in the near future. United becomes one of several international carriers to adopt Starlink on board, including Qatar Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic and Air France.
According to The Independent, United opines that Starlink will provide an "incredible onboard experience for customers," reachingspeeds of up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps). That’s enough to allow travelers to stream movies and TV shows on multiple devices with minimal lag or buffering.
United highlighted that Starlink’s “laser link” technology will allow satellites to maintain strong connections to one another and ground stations, regardless of weather conditions. Currently, even regular Wi-Fi isn't consistently available on all flights, and service often drops completely when aircraft travel over remote areas or the ocean.
Additionally, there are cost considerations. Aboard competitor American Airlines, for example, Wi-Fi access for a single flight is around $10, while subscription plans can run up to $60 per month.
United plans to equip its entire two-cabin regional fleet with Starlink by the end of 2025.
United's VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead, said: "Our ability to roll-out this innovative service with unprecedented speed and scale is a direct result of the advanced equipment, technology and team of experts at United.” He added, "Starlink has been a terrific partner — our combined spirit of innovation and collaboration will enable us to hit our goal of more than 300 regional aircraft installations before the end of this year."
The new Wi-Fi access will be available at no charge to MileagePlus loyalty program members. Passengers who have not signed up for a MileagePlus account, however, will not have access to Wi-Fi at all, since older onboard internet systems are being removed during the Starlink installation process.
"This gate-to-gate connectivity will enable experiences in the sky at scale that no other major U.S. airline provides, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously," the carrier said.
In addition to high-speed browsing, Starlink connectivity will enable passengers to access streaming platforms, online shopping, gaming and other digital entertainment options.
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