United Airlines and Starlink Bringing Free Internet to Passengers in May

Free, high-speed wi-fi will soon be available on United Airlines’ regional flights. Passengers will be able to connect to Elon Musk’s Starlink service starting sometime in May.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the Starlink equipment on United’s Express Embraer 175 aircraft. The government authorization comes eight months after Starlink and the airline signed a deal to provide free internet service for passengers.

“We know customers are going to love this experience, and we think it will give them yet another reason to choose United,” explained Grant Milstead, United VP of Digital Technology. “We’re working closely with Starlink and the FAA to finish installs on our regional fleet this year and bring the best inflight experience in the sky to more and more people.”

United will gradually add Starlink equipment to all its Embraer 175 aircraft over the next year. The airline is also seeking FAA approval for other aircraft models as well. Ideally, Starlink will provide internet service across United’s fleet of 1,000 planes over the next few years.

Starlink In-Flight Internet

With expected speeds up to 50 times faster than other aircraft internet services, passengers can stream movies and TV shows, shop online, and play games. The service will be free to MileagePlus members, which passengers can sign up for at no cost.

When the Starlink-United deal was announced in September 2024, the airline noted that the internet service will go beyond just passengers. To improve customer service and efficiency, pilots, flight attendants, gate agents, and technicians will access Starlink as well.

United is not the only carrier with Starlink. Hawaiian Airlines introduced passengers to free wi-fi through Starlink on its Airbus A321neo craft in February 2024. Later that year, the air carrier announced a plan to add Starlink to all Airbus-operated flights between Hawaii and the U.S., Asia, and Oceania. Also in 2024, international airlines WestJet and Qatar Airways had plans to add Starlink to flights.

Starlink, which is a subsidiary of SpaceX, went online in 2020 and has continued to expand its network. The service is available in over 70 countries and currently serves millions of users via 6,000 satellites in orbit around the Earth. With internet service provided through low-Earth satellites, the technology can help people stay connected — even in remote areas without the typical infrastructure needed for traditional internet service.