United Airlines, recognized as the world’s largest airline, is set to enhance its fleet with Starlink-powered Wi-Fi starting this spring. Moreover, the airline is accelerating its initiative to provide free Starlink access to all its “MileagePlus” members.
Starting in February, United will initiate tests of Starlink connectivity on its flights, with plans to introduce the service on commercial routes by spring. Initially, Starlink will be implemented on select regional flights using Embraer E-175 aircraft, which are smaller planes with a capacity of 88 passengers, primarily serving short-haul routes between regional airports. United aims to have Starlink fully operational across its entire regional fleet and to commence its first mainline Starlink flight by the end of 2025.
United Airlines intends to equip all 992 aircraft in its fleet with Starlink, although a specific timeline for the complete upgrade has not been disclosed. This accelerated deployment follows United’s record-setting agreement with Starlink in September 2024, originally projected to span several years.
Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, already serves as the in-flight Wi-Fi provider for Hawaiian Airlines. Passengers on all Hawaiian flights enjoy complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi, with reported download speeds around 100 Mbps over the Pacific Ocean, significantly surpassing the capabilities of other in-flight Wi-Fi services, especially in terms of coverage and speed over the mid-Pacific. While some users have noted occasional higher packet loss and other network issues with Starlink, these are typical challenges of satellite-based Wi-Fi, expected to diminish as Starlink continues to enhance its satellite network.
All MileagePlus members of United Airlines will have free access to Starlink Wi-Fi. MileagePlus is a no-cost loyalty program offered by United, setting a new standard similar to Hawaiian’s offering and positioning United ahead of competitors that charge for in-flight Wi-Fi.
Starlink’s customer support and additional services are managed by xAI, another venture owned by Elon Musk, concentrating on artificial intelligence. xAI recently completed a funding round that amassed $6 billion, aimed at developing more advanced supercomputer clusters for the firm. xAI utilizes data from Tesla and SpaceX for training its AIs, though it’s presumed that data from United passengers using Starlink will not be utilized by the company.