The first commercial flights with Starlink services are now expected in the spring, the entire two-cabin regional fleet is set to be in place by the end of 2025 and the first mainline aircraft is expected to fly before the end of the year.
United Airlines has announced an accelerated timeline to bring Starlink – the world's fastest, most reliable connection in the sky – to United travelers around the world.
The airline now expects to begin Starlink testing next month with the first commercial flight to take place this spring on a United Embraer E-175 aircraft. United now plans to equip its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of this year and have its first mainline Starlink-capable aircraft in the air before the end of this year.
Eventually, United will add Starlink to its entire fleet.
Access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and includes game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. Membership to MileagePlus is also free and people can sign-up now at united.com/starlink.
“We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink as soon as possible – as soon as possible – is at the heart of it all,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. “Not only is this going to revolutionize the United flying experience, it's going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that wouldn't be possible otherwise.”
Last September, United signed the industry's largest deal with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet. And starting in a few months, airline customers will enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency Internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground. This gate-to-gate connectivity will simultaneously enable in-flight experiences on seatback screens and personal devices that no other major US airline offers.