SpaceX has entered into a strategic agreement with United Airlines to bring Starlink service to more than 1,000 planes of the airline’s mainline and regional aircraft.
The airline announced Friday that its customers will soon be able to enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet in the air as they do on the ground. The new connection will open up sky-based experiences on a scale no other major US airline can offer. This includes access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming, and more on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.
United expects to have Starlink installed on all of its more than 1,000 aircraft over the next few years. Testing will begin in early 2025, with the first passenger flights expected later that year. Starlink service on United aircraft will be free, according to a statement from the company.
Starlink is designed by SpaceX to provide internet access around the world, including in remote places with extreme conditions. Traditional cellular or Wi-Fi signals were previously unavailable in these areas, but Starlink changed this. United is the largest airline in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and will be the first carrier in the world to commit to offering Starlink service at this scale.
“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,” said 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.”
“We’re excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX. “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.”
United’s new Starlink Wi-Fi service will include experiences like:
- Live streaming: access personal streaming services and watch live TV, shows and movies without buffering, lag or the need to download content in advance.
- Workplace productivity: download/upload documents and edit shared files in real-time.
- Gaming: play live games and follow along on live gaming streaming services.
- E-Commerce: shop online, schedule grocery delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of your seat.
- Multiple devices: connect multiple devices at once, under one user.
- Live support with the United app: download the United app while inflight to get real-time info about connections and access customer support from a real agent through Agent on Demand.
The new service will also benefit United’s front-line employees—United pilots, flight attendants, technicians and agents who use mobile devices to manage operations and serve customers. As United deploys Starlink more widely, it will give these teams the same rich capabilities in the air as they have on the ground, including when operating in remote locations or when traditional services might be impacted, such as during power outages or natural disasters.
