Carrier to Provide Free Wi-Fi for Passengers and Crew in 2025

On September 13, United Airlines signed a deal with SpaceX to install Starlink’s high-speed internet across its entire fleet. The agreement, which involves over 1,000 aircraft, will be implemented in early 2025.

"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," commented United CEO Scott Kirby. "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."

SpaceX’s Starlink satellites were launched for the first time in 2019. Since then, over 6,000 satellites have joined the constellation, providing coverage to more than 100 countries. The low Earth orbit satellites are intended to improve internet reliability over oceans and remote areas unreachable by traditional signals.

United’s current inflight internet offering stems from a mishmash of providers, like ViaSat and Panasonic. They charge $8 for members and $2 extra for everyone else on domestic and limited international flights.

This marks the largest airline agreement to be signed with SpaceX so far. Several other airlines have struck deals for the satellite service, including Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, Qatar Airways, Zipair, JSX, Flexjet, and Aero.

The deal will grant United passengers and flight crews with gate-to-gate service and inflight entertainment. They will have access to live TV, streaming services, shopping, and gaming on seatback screens and personal devices.

Testing for the product is slated to begin in early 2025, with passenger flights expected later in the year.

"We're excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience," stated SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell. "With Starlink onboard your United flight, you'll have access to the world's most advanced high-speed internet from gate to gate, and all the miles in between."

FMI: www.united.com, www.starlink.com