GLOBAL INDUSTRY NEWS

Explore Japan for free? Japan Airlines offers free domestic flights to foreign travelers

Delta named Official Airline Partner of Birmingham City Football Club

American Airlines to Cut These Routes to Las Vegas, Orlando, and More — Here's Why

Alaska Airlines completes acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, expanding benefits and choice for travelers

Southwest wouldn't really start charging for bags — right?

JD Power ranked this Midwest airport as the best among largest airports in North America

Air Canada could begin suspending flights soon as strike deadline nears

JetBlue's new ticket policy entitles every passenger to a carry-on bag

Why United Airlines’ CEO makes as few decisions as possible

American invests in the future of aviation maintenance with new jobs, additional work

DOT probe seeks to determine if frequent flyer programs are fair to travelers

American Airlines flight diverted after passenger starts vaping

Russian Airline Wants $100 Million From Canada for Seizing Its Giant Cargo Plane

Here's where American Airlines is adding flights to Europe in summer 2025

Major airline grounds Airbus A350 fleet, citing faulty engine component

Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions

Regulator cuts Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate duration after probe

United Airlines flight attendants are prepared to strike. Here's why it's still unlikely.

2 workers killed, 1 injured in tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines shop in Atlanta

Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million

Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA

Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up

LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger clears Justice Department hurdle, now faces DOT

Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'

Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines

Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design

AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges

Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX

VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap

Global Industry News

United Airlines partners with SpaceX's Starlink for fleet-wide Wi-Fi

Events

Runway Girl Network | Runway Girl Network

By Sky Industry News

Sep 13, 2024

United Airlines has selected SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation inflight connectivity solution to provide free Wi-Fi on its entire fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft, including both mainline and regional planes. This significant deal will replace multiple incumbent in-flight connectivity (IFC) providers such as Panasonic Avionics, Viasat, and Intelsat.

“United customers will soon enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground,” United said in a statement following rumors of the deal on X, a platform also controlled by Elon Musk.

“The new, gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock game-changing experiences in the sky at scale that no other major US airline provides like access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.”

Get the Newsletter

Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News

By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

United plans to equip all its aircraft with Starlink over the next several years. Financial terms have not been disclosed. Testing is set to begin in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later that year.

Starlink operates through SpaceX’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Ku-band satellite network. The announcement is a setback for Panasonic, Viasat, and Intelsat, which currently power IFC on United's widebodies (and some narrowbodies), most of its domestic fleet, and regional jets respectively.

Other airlines have also transitioned to Starlink. Panasonic customers ZIPAIR and WestJet have announced their switch to Starlink while Viasat business aviation customer Flexjet is doing the same. Hawaiian Airlines has already equipped its entire A321neo fleet with Starlink and is completing installations on its A330 fleet.

It remains unclear if United will maintain a portal experience for passengers. The airline aims to integrate Starlink connectivity into its seatback IFE screens. Currently operating 100,000 screens across its fleet, United plans to increase this number as part of its NEXT retrofit plan and new jet deliveries.

“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 United CEO Scott Kirby. “This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight entertainment experience in every seatback — more content that’s more personalized. United’s culture of innovation is once again delivering big for our customers.”

The new Starlink-enabled IFC service will also allow United pilots, flight attendants, technicians, and gate agents to operate efficiently using connected mobile devices.

“We’re excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience,” said SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell. “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.”

Organizations Included in this History

Runway Girl Network

More News

Aviation Comments

Loading...

No comments available.