Back in September 2024 United Airlines announced plans to roll out free Starlink Wi-Fi fleetwide, including on its two cabin regional jets. Now we have an update as the carrier plans to accelerate the rollout of Starlink, with the first revenue flight tentatively scheduled for Spring 2025.
The airline now expects to begin testing Starlink next month on a United Express Embraer E175 aircraft. United now plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of this year and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of 2025.
It’s somewhat strange to see an airline prioritize its regional jet fleet over the mainline fleet when upgrading the passenger experience. This is great news for flyers who find themselves on United Express flights on a regular basis.
Access to the free Starlink Wi-Fi will be free for all MileagePlus loyalty program members and will include inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus, had this to say about the airline’s partnership with Starlink:
“We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can – as quickly as we can – is at the center of it all. It’s not only going to revolutionize the experience of flying United, but it’s also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”
United Airlines will become the first major U.S. carrier to equip its planes with Starlink Wi-Fi. The airline joins boutique carrier JSX, which has Starlink on all of its Embraer jets, and Qatar Airways, which recently operated the first Starlink equipped flight on a Boeing 777.
Additional details are expected as the first Starlink equipped aircraft prepares to begin commercial service this spring. No information on the rollout timeline has been provided past 2025.
Summary
United Airlines has announced plans to accelerate the rollout of Starlink internet fleetwide. The carrier now expects to have all two cabin regional jets equipped with the service by the end of 2025 with the first plane expected to enter service in the spring. United will also have mainline jets equipped with Starlink before the end of the year, though no timeline has been provided past the end of 2025.
