United Airlines Announces Starlink Deployment Plans For In-Flight Connectivity

In September 2024 United Airlines announced that it had signed a deal with satellite internet service provider Starlink, which marked the industry's largest agreement of its kind.

The idea was to bring Starlink's fast Wi-Fi service to the airline's mainline and regional aircraft fleet for free.

At the time, the airline said it expected to have Starlink’s services on all United aircraft, a fleet that spans over 1,000 planes. The move was to be executed over the next several years with testing to begin in early 2025, and the first commercial flight to take off later in the year.

Now, United Airlines has come out with an update on its Starlink plan.

As per a news release published on its website, the airline will begin tests next month, i.e. February, with the first commercial flight expected in spring later this year, aboard a United Embraer E-175 aircraft.

Furthermore, the plan will see United fit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of 2025, and ultimately to its entire fleet.

While United initially said access would be free to all users aboard eligible flights, the new update will bring the service to all MileagePlus customers for free. However, membership to MileagePlus is also free and customers can now sign up.

Speaking about the move, Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus, said, "We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can – as quickly as we can – is at the center of it all.”

“It's not only going to revolutionize the experience of flying United, but it's also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn't be possible.”


Essentially, the move will bring the same high-speed, low-latency internet service to flyers in the air, allowing them to enjoy live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming, and more.

“Everything you can do on the ground, you'll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” said United CEO Scott Kirby when the deal was first announced.

The service will enable experiences such as live streaming of movies, TV shows, and live TV, workplace productivity by collaborating on documents in real-time, gaming in real-time, browsing e-commerce platforms and shopping, and more, across multiple devices including personal devices and seatback screens.

United’s upgraded setback screens consist of 16-inch HD touch screens in each United Polaris business class seat, 13-inch screens in every United First Class seat, and 10-inch screens in every United Economy seat. Its new interiors also come with Bluetooth connectivity.

Furthermore, flyers can download the United app, as well as leverage it to get real-time information about connections and access customer support.

“This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, that's more personalized. United's culture of innovation is, once again, delivering big for our customers,” added Kirby.

What do you think about United Airlines’ partnership with Starlink? Do you think competing airline brands should consider making similar moves?

Let us know in the comments below!