United Airlines is set to launch Elon Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi across its regional fleet from 15 May 2025. When the overhaul is complete by the end of the year, the US carrier will then fit the system into all its long-haul services, offering “an incredible onboard experience for customers”, it said in a press announcement.
Wi-Fi speeds are advertised as up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps), allowing passengers to view movies and TV shows on multiple devices via “laser link” technology that overcomes weather conditions on the ground and provides gate-to-gate connectivity.
In 2024, the US major was the first to announce a partnership with Starlink. Now, United’s VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead, has hailed the “innovative service with unprecedented speed and scale” saying it “is a direct result of the advanced equipment, technology and team of experts at United.” Milstead also praised Starlink, calling the firm “a terrific partner — our combined spirit of innovation and collaboration will enable us to hit our goal of more than 300 regional aircraft installations before the end of this year.”
Speeds
A tester for The Verge, on board a United Embraer E-175 narrow-body flight out of Chicago O’Hare airport to Detroit, recorded “impressive” download speeds “averaging at 128 megabits-per-second (Mbps). Upload speeds were “a little slower at an average of 23.9 Mbps,” the reviewer said, praising image quality as “crystal clear”. For comparison, over on Qatar flights, Business Insider recorded a download speed of up to 215 megabits per second at 36,000 feet altitude.
United’s upload speeds were more questionable, with saving video clips to Google Drive taking the tester almost seven minutes. This reflects Starlink’s own reluctance to advertise the service’s upload rate, The Verge said.
Logging on
Users are required to connect via United’s mobile app, which means signing up to the airline’s MileagePlus loyalty program, currently free, unlike nearly all competitors in-flight Wi-Fi. However, American Airlines recently announced it would offer free Wi-Fi for 90% of flyers, using AT&T’s Viasat and Intelsat technology.
Logging on with United also entails agreeing to the terms and conditions of use, including making no voice or video calls, wearing headphones for audio, and ensuring all viewing content is inoffensive in nature.
Other airlines partnering with Starlink to install in-flight and gate-to-gate Wi-Fi systems include airBaltic, Air France, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, and Qatar Airways. In addition, Air New Zealand, SAS, WestJet, and Zipair have also been reported to be interested in, or working with Musk’s technology.
