United Airlines has signed an agreement with SpaceX that will provide passengers with complimentary access to Starlink’s Wi-Fi service.
It means that United passengers will be able to enjoy a similar high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air to the one they use on the ground. The new, gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more. It will be accessible on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.
United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet and plans exist to grow that number with the delivery of new aircraft and retrofitting of existing planes with new United signature interiors. Those include 16-inch HD touch screens in United Polaris Business class seats, 13-inch screens in every First class seat and 10-inch screens in Economy seats.
The new signature interiors include Bluetooth connectivity, power in every seat, larger overhead bins with room for everyone’s rollaboard luggage and LED lighting.
United expects to have Starlink connectivity onboard all of its aircraft, a fleet that totals more than 1,000 planes. Testing begins in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later in the year.
Starlink delivers internet access around the world, including over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional mobile phone or Wi-Fi signals.
United is the largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific and will be the first carrier in the world to commit to offering Starlink’s service at this scale.
United’s new Starlink Wi-Fi service will include experiences such as live streaming, enabling passengers to watch live TV and other entertainment without buffering, lag or the need to download content in advance.
Passengers will be able to download and upload documents and edit shared files in real time, facilitating work-related productivity while travelling.
Playing live games and following live gaming streaming services will be possible. So too will using e-commerce activities. Passengers will be able to shop online during flights, schedule grocery deliveries and make restaurant and travel reservations.
Connecting to multiple devices at once, under one user, will be facilitated.
Real-time support from the United app will be provided regarding connections and Agent on Demand will give customer support from an agent.
The new service will also benefit United’s pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents all use mobile devices to help run the operation and serve customers. As United rolls out Starlink it will give those teams the same capabilities in the air as they have on the ground including when traditional services might be impacted by power outages or natural disasters.
“Everything you can do on the ground, you’ll soon be able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” said Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines: “This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, that’s more personalised.”
Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX, added: “We’re excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience. With Starlink onboard your United flight, you’ll have access to the world’s most advanced high-speed internet from gate to gate, and all the miles in between.”
