United Airlines Begins Starlink Rollout for Free, High-Speed In-Flight Wi-Fi
The airline plans to equip its entire regional fleet with the satellite internet service by the end of 2025, offering speeds up to 50 times faster than current systems.
- United Airlines has partnered with SpaceX's Starlink to provide free in-flight Wi-Fi to MileagePlus loyalty members.
- The first Starlink-enabled aircraft, an Embraer E175, has been successfully outfitted, with over 40 planes a month slated for installation starting in May 2025.
- Passengers on Starlink-equipped planes will experience Wi-Fi speeds of up to 250 Mbps, significantly faster than existing systems on regional aircraft.
- The installation process is quicker and more efficient, taking about eight hours per aircraft, which minimizes downtime compared to traditional systems.
- United aims to complete the rollout for its 300+ regional aircraft by the end of 2025 and plans to expand to mainline aircraft within the same timeframe.