United Airlines made history this week (October 15) when one of its flights was the first by a major U.S. airline to offer Starlink Wi-Fi on a mainline service, with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens.
More than 170 customers onboard a United Boeing 737-800 flying between Newark/New York and Houston enjoyed the same kind of high-speed, low-latency internet experience they have on the ground, including live TV and streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.
The airline says it expects to install two Starlink antennas on up to 15 mainline 737-800 planes each month; more than half of United’s regional fleet already offers Starlink. By the end of the year, the airline expects to have an additional aircraft type certified to offer Starlink.
Customers will be able to access Starlink on all devices at once, such as their seatback screen, phone, tablet and computer.
“We’re committed to raising the bar when it comes to the onboard experience, and with Starlink, we’re changing how people fly,” said David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer.
“Whether it’s catching a live game, streaming an award show or working, United customers won’t miss a beat when they’re onboard a Starlink-equipped flight.”
Starlink Wi-Fi is free for United MileagePlus® members, and customers receive a notification before their flight if it’s equipped with Starlink.
The rollout of Starlink across United’s fleet aligns with the airline’s plans to have 300,000-plus seatback screens across its fleet – more than any other U.S. airline – as it takes delivery of hundreds of new airplanes and retrofits existing aircraft.
United’s U.S. hubs are Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
