DALLAS — United Airlines has reached an agreement with SpaceX, the company Elon Muskto offer the service of Internet Starlink satellite in its flights in the coming years.
The airline said Friday that the service will be free for passengers and will allow them to connect from multiple devices. United said it will begin testing the service early next year and start offering it on some flights in late 2025. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The announcement comes as airlines race to offer more amenities to stand out from their competitors. United’s goal is to make sitting on a plane a similar experience to sitting on the ground when it comes to browsing the web, accessing streaming platforms and gaming.
Delta Air Lines began offering free Wi-Fi on flights last year with Viasat, a Starlink competitor. Hawaiian Airlines uses Starlink for free internet service on Airbus A321neo aircraft between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. United Airlines is looking to take a more aggressive approach, providing the service on its fleet of more than 1,000 United and United Express aircraft.
Linda Jojo, United’s chief customer officer, said American passengers now expect access to free Wi-Fi, making it one of the most requested onboard amenities for all types of travelers.
“No matter where you sit on the plane, no matter how much you paid for your ticket, you’re going to benefit” from the service, Jojo said.
Starlink will give passengers internet access even when planes are flying over oceans and polar regions where traditional cellular or Wi-Fi signals may be weak or nonexistent, he said.
