United Airlines has announced a groundbreaking partnership with SpaceX to offer free high-speed wifi across all of its aircraft, utilizing SpaceX’s Starlink service.
In what is being touted as the industry’s largest agreement of its kind, United will equip over 1,000 mainline and regional aircraft with Starlink wifi, aiming to deliver seamless, high-speed internet connectivity for passengers.
Testing of the new service is set to begin in early 2025, with the first passenger flights offering the Starlink wifi expected to take off later in the year. United promises that the service will enable passengers to enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet they experience on the ground, with gate-to-gate connectivity that allows for live streaming, real-time document editing, and downloading/uploading across multiple devices. Passengers will also be able to connect both personal devices and seatback screens simultaneously, providing a versatile and reliable inflight internet experience.
United highlighted that the Starlink service will significantly enhance connectivity over oceans and other remote areas that were previously unreachable by traditional cell or wifi signals. This advancement is part of United’s ongoing commitment to improving inflight services and providing a superior passenger experience.
United CEO Scott Kirby commented on the announcement, stating: “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. 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.”
The announcement from United follows similar moves by other airlines to enhance inflight connectivity. In July, Canadian carrier WestJet announced plans to roll out free wifi across its fleet in partnership with TELUS, leveraging Starlink’s technology. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines is also in the process of providing free wifi to all passengers in collaboration with T-Mobile, with initial services launching on long-haul routes this summer.