Starlink Wi-Fi has been rolled out on a major US airline mainline flight for the first time in history. United Airlines flight 2940 from Newark/New York to Houston took off at 8:00 am ET on 15 October 2025 with Starlink connectivity across personal devices and inflight entertainment screens.
The Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft was scheduled to fly on from Houston (IAH) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on flight 365, and from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Houston (IAH) on flight 445, which ended the day in Houston.
Following this US first, United said it is planning an installation programme that will see Starlink becoming available on up to 15 mainline 737-800 planes each month. The rollout entails fitting two Starlink antennas on each 737-800 aircraft. More than half of United’s regional fleet already offers Starlink, and by the end of the year, the carrier expects to have an additional aircraft type certified to offer Starlink. The airline is set to install nearly 2,940 antennas across its entire fleet – matching the flight number for the first customer flight.
Lightning-fast @Starlink Wi-Fi is now on board our first mainline aircraft. 🛰️
— United Airlines (@united) October 15, 2025
Stay connected from gate to gate on allllll your devices just like you’re at home. That means live streaming, live sports, live gaming, even live watching your pet cam. 😉
Starlink Wi-Fi is already… pic.twitter.com/csqglL0R85
Starlink Wi-Fi is free for United MileagePlus® members, and customers will receive a notification before their flight if it’s equipped with Starlink, allowing them to live stream sports events, watch films or TV shows, and access their own personal streaming services. Speeds of up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps), allow connections “without buffering, lag, or advance download” the airline claims.
Gaming and shopping are other use cases, but it’s not all about leisure. The advent of Starlink Wi-Fi also makes real-time work collaboration possible, giving flyers the chance to downland and share files, edit documents, and stay up to date with their colleagues’ work second-by-second.
“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 provides unprecedented in-flight connectivity
— Starlink (@Starlink) October 14, 2025
Stream, game, work and more with reliable high-speed internet at 30,000 feet 🛰️✈️ https://t.co/8bvnTnPeS5
Passengers on United’s regional flights have benefitted from Starlink since May 2025, and the airline now has Starlink installed on more than half of the aircraft in its regional fleet. Initial customer scores on those flights show 90% of flyers appreciating the ability to stream onboard.
The rollout of Starlink across United’s fleet aligns with the airline’s plans to have 300,000+ seatback screens across its fleet, which it highlights will be more than any other US airline, thanks to billions invested in “enhancing the customer experience” intended to garner brand loyalty.
Competitor American Airlines announced in spring 2025 that it would be offering free Wi-Fi on 90% of its aircraft, from 2026, making a free internet connection available to its AAdvantage loyalty program members thanks to its partnership with telecommunications specialist AT&T, which is equipping most of the American fleet with Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity.
