United will begin testing Starlink on flights in February
United Airlines has announced plans to begin testing Starlink on flights in February and eventually add SpaceX’s satellite internet service to its entire fleet. The company initially announced this a partnership with SpaceX “to set a new standard for onboard connectivity” in September 2024.
Following testing, United expects the first commercial Starlink flight to take place in the spring on a United Embraer E-175. The rest of the airline’s “two-cabin regional fleet” will be equipped with Starlink throughout 2025, and United says the “first Starlink-enabled mainline aircraft” will be in the air before the end of the year.
Starlink will be available free of charge to all members of United’s MileagePlus program. In addition to improving the quality of onboard Wi-Fi, United sees Starlink as an opportunity to “develop new partnerships for its members.” Don’t be surprised if United develops new deals with streaming services to offer more free content on flights.
United joins both delta And Hawaiian Airlines in collaboration with Starlink for WiFi on board. SpaceX originally announced its intentions to do so offer internet speeds of 350 Mbit/s on aircraft in 2022, and both Delta and Haiwaiian Airlines have either tested Starlink or committed to offering it on their aircraft.
Starlink has grown significantly over the last year. SpaceX was allowed to test Starlink Direct-to-cell satellite service with T-Mobile during the landfall of Hurricane Milton in the US, plans were made for a larger beta test of the service for February and launched a nationwide satellite SMS service in New Zealand.
