United Airlines has announced plans to deploy Starlink internet across its entire fleet, offering the fastest in-flight internet service at no additional cost to passengers. Initial tests are scheduled for early next year, with the first passenger flight featuring the new technology expected later in 2025. Over the next few years, United will roll out Starlink on both mainline and regional jets.
The low Earth orbit satellites used by Starlink promise minimal latency and download speeds of up to 200 Mbps. This is a significant upgrade from current offerings, which many passengers have found lacking. "Incredible. I've gotten as much as 80 Mbps down on this @flyjsx flight with @SpaceX#Starlink internet," tweeted Gary Leff in March 2023.
Once fully implemented, United’s service will surpass that of Delta and JetBlue, which currently offer free but slower wifi, and American Airlines, which charges higher fees for similar services. Despite recent improvements, United's current wifi performance remains subpar compared to competitors like Southwest.