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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.

Doug Stoltz, director of cabin systems engineering at United Airlines, left, and Monal Merchant, director of TechOps Strategy at United Airlines, display a Starlink setup which will replace older broadband wi-fi on United Airlines flights, during a media preview at Nashville International Airport (BNA) in Nashville, Tennessee, US, on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
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Overview

  • 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.