United will accelerate the roll-out of free Starlink Wi-Fi, the carrier said on Sunday. The Chicago-based airline first announced an agreement with Elon Musk’s satellite Wi-Fi provider in September.
By the end of 2025, United says it will equip its two-cabin regional fleet with Starlink. The first aircraft ‒ an Embraer E175 ‒ will now feature upgraded internet service by the spring.
Initially, United planned to roll out Starlink in late 2025. Its first Starlink-enabled mainline aircraft will begin offering the service by the end of this year.
The carrier plans to equip its entire fleet with Starlink internet, which will be free for MileagePlus members. “This gate-to-gate connectivity will enable experiences in the sky at scale that no other major U.S. airline provides, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously,” United said in a news release.
United will become the first major U.S. carrier to utilize Starlink. JSX uses the technology on its fleet of Embraer jets. Air France also plans to equip its fleet with Starlink.
