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Global Industry News

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

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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.”

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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.”

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