United Airlines has announced an accelerated timeline to introduce Starlink connectivity to travelers worldwide. The airline now expects to begin testing Starlink next month, with the first commercial flight planned for this spring aboard a United Embraer E-175 aircraft. The entire two-cabin regional fleet is set to be outfitted with Starlink by the end of 2025, and the first mainline plane equipped with the service is expected to take flight before the end of this year.
Access to Starlink will be free for all MileagePlus customers, offering transformative inflight entertainment experiences, including streaming services, shopping, gaming, and more. United’s award-winning loyalty program, MileagePlus, is free to join, and customers can sign up at united.com/starlink.
Last September, United signed the industry’s largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet. Beginning in a few months, customers will experience the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air as they do on the ground. This gate-to-gate connectivity will enable simultaneous experiences on seatback screens and personal devices at a scale unmatched by other major U.S. airlines.
Richard Nunn, CEO, United MileagePlus
We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can – as quickly as we can – is at the center of it all. It’s not only going to revolutionize the experience of flying United, but it’s also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.