United Airlines’ First Aircraft Installed with Starlink, Speeds Set to Increase Drastically.

On Friday, March 7th, United Airlines announced a collaboration with SpaceX’s satellite internet provider Starlink to install Starlink Wi-Fi on their first aircraft, offering high-speed internet to their passengers. The company stated on social media platform X, “The world’s fastest and most reliable airborne Starlink internet has officially landed on our first aircraft, with more to follow.”

According to Techradar, Starlink’s Wi-Fi speed is 50 times faster than regular Wi-Fi, surpassing the internet speeds of most households.

United Airlines mentioned, “We will begin adding Starlink to our fleet this spring and plan to roll out across the entire fleet in the coming years.” Starting from May, the company plans to install Starlink on over forty aircraft per month, aiming to complete installation on all regional aircraft by the end of 2025, followed by mainline aircraft.

As early as January this year, ahead of the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, United Airlines announced an acceleration in promoting and installing Starlink internet across their fleet. Grant Milstead, the company’s VP of Digital Technology, described using Starlink network as “a bit like having a living room in the sky.”

In their statement, United Airlines stated, “This means you’ll be able to stream, browse, and game just like you would at home…Starlink is free when you have (also free) MileagePlus membership.”

“MileagePlus® members will be able to use Starlink on seatback screens and personal devices…upgrade your entertainment without the need to pre-download content before the flight. You can watch live TV, catch up on the latest episodes of your favorite streaming shows, or play live games,” the statement said, adding that passengers can “shop online, make reservations, and download documents,” and “get the latest information on connecting flights, baggage status, and more.”

United Airlines mentioned that installing Starlink equipment takes about eight hours, approximately ten times faster than current Wi-Fi equipment onboard, excluding dismantling or testing time. The quicker installation process means shorter downtime for the aircraft.

Moreover, the Starlink antenna and related equipment weigh 85 pounds, electronics controlled, with no moving parts internally, making it convenient to move and requiring less maintenance. United Airlines highlighted the lighter weight of Starlink (compared to other onboard Wi-Fi equipment weighing over 300 pounds), stating that it “means less fuel needed for the aircraft to operate compared to other onboard Wi-Fi equipment.”

United Airlines stated that the primary focus for Starlink installation is regional aircraft, which make up a significant portion of their fleet of over 1,000 aircraft, with over three hundred being regional aircraft.