United Schedules First Starlink-Equipped Mainline Flight for Take Off

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United flight 2940 is set to depart Newark/New York to Houston at 8:00 a.m. ET on a Boeing 737-800

Starlink installations complete on more than half of United regional jets

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United will make history tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET when United flight 2940 takes off from Newark/New York to Houston, marking the first time a major U.S. airline has offered Starlink Wi-Fi on a mainline flight with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens. The airline expects to install Starlink on up to 15 mainline 737-800 planes each month; more than half of United's regional fleet already offers Starlink. By the end of the year, the airline expects to have an additional aircraft type certified to offer Starlink.



More than 170 customers onboard the Boeing 737-800 will enjoy the same kind of high-speed, low-latency internet experience they have at home, unlocking experiences like live TV and streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. On October 15, the Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft is also expected to fly from Houston (IAH) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on flight 365 and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Houston (IAH) on flight 445 where it will end the day in Houston.

United will install two Starlink antennas on each 737-800 aircraft. The airline is set to install nearly 2,940 antennas across its entire fleet � the flight number for the first customer flight.

Starlink Wi-Fi is free for United MileagePlus� members, and customers will receive a notification before their flight if it's equipped with Starlink.

"We're committed to raising the bar when it comes to the onboard experience, and with Starlink, we're changing how people fly," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "Whether it's catching a live game, streaming an award show or working, United customers won't miss a beat when they're onboard a Starlink-equipped flight."

United's Starlink is breaking the Wi-Fi barrier, and the new service unlocks a new way to travel with experiences like:

• Live streaming: Whether you catch a live sports event, watch a favorite movie or show and more, passengers can access their personal streaming services without buffering, lag or need to download in advance.
• Real-time work collaboration: Download/upload files, share and edit documents, and stay in sync with your team in real-time.
• Gaming at 30,000 feet: Pick up where you left off and play live games and follow along on live gaming streaming services.
• Seamless shopping: Stay connected online, schedule grocery delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of your seat.
• Connect multiple devices at once: Customers will be able to access Starlink on all devices at once, like their seatback screen, phone, tablet, computer and more.

United's first Starlink-equipped regional flight took place on a regional jet in May 2025, and the airline now has Starlink installed on more than half of the aircraft in its regional fleet. Initial customer scores on those flights have been noteworthy with 90% of customers appreciating the ability to stream onboard with Starlink's high-speed, easy-to-use and consistent connection.

The rollout of Starlink across United's fleet aligns with the airline's plans to have 300,000+ seatback screens across its fleet � more than any other U.S. airline � as it takes delivery of hundreds of new airplanes and retrofits existing aircraft. Over the last several years, United has invested billions of dollars in enhancing the customer experience, and by providing more value for customers, the airline aims to earn stronger brand loyalty.

See here for visual assets and visit united.com/starlink for additional information.

United Announces Accelerated Timeline for Starlink's Industry-Leading Connectivity in the Sky
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First commercial flight with Starlink service now expected by spring, entire two-cabin regional fleet is outfitted by end of 2025 and first mainline plane expected to fly before end of year

Access will be free for all MileagePlus� customers and includes game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more

Sign-up for United's award-winning loyalty program for free now at united.com/starlink

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced an accelerated timeline to bring Starlink � the world's fastest, most reliable connectivity in the sky � to United travelers around the world.



The airline now expects to begin testing Starlink next month with the first commercial flight anticipated to take off this spring on a United Embraer E-175 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 this year.

Ultimately, United will add Starlink to its entire fleet.

Access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and includes game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. Membership to MileagePlus is also free and people can sign-up now at united.com/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," said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. "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."

Last September, United signed the industry's largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet. And starting in a few months, the airline's customers will enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground. This gate-to-gate connectivity will enable experiences in the sky at scale that no other major U.S. airline provides, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.

The Inflight Wi-Fi Revolution Now Arriving: United Signs Starlink Deal to Provide Industry-Leading Connectivity in the Sky - For Free
September 13, 2024
Products and Customer Experience


Starlink allows for gate-to-gate internet service and unlocks game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like access to live TV and streaming services, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously

Starlink's low Earth orbit satellites deliver reliable, high-speed, low-latency internet and boost reliability over oceans and other remote areas previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals

Industry's largest agreement includes more than 1,000 aircraft

Testing begins in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later next year; United's culture of innovation again delivers big benefits to customers

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- United today set a new standard of inflight connectivity by signing the industry's largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink's fast, reliable Wi-Fi service to the airline's mainline and regional aircraft fleet, for free.

United customers will soon enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground. The new, gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock game-changing experiences in the sky at scale that no other major U.S. airline provides like access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.

United expects to have Starlink on all United aircraft � more than 1,000 planes � over the next several years. Testing begins in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later that year.

Starlink service on United aircraft will be free.

Leveraging advanced satellites with its deep experience in both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink is engineered by SpaceX and delivers internet access around the world, including over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi signals. United is the largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific and will be the first carrier in the world to commit to offering Starlink service at this scale.

"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."

"We're excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience," said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX. "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."

United's new Starlink Wi-Fi service will include experiences like:

• Live streaming: access personal streaming services and watch live TV, shows and movies without buffering, lag or the need to download content in advance.
• Workplace productivity: download/upload documents and edit shared files in real-time.
• Gaming: play live games and follow along on live gaming streaming services.
• E-Commerce: shop online, schedule grocery delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of your seat.
• Multiple devices: connect multiple devices at once, under one user.
• Live support with the United app: download the United app while inflight to get real-time info about connections and access customer support from a real agent through Agent on Demand.

In addition to using Starlink connectivity on personal devices, United customers also will have access on their seatback screens. United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with plans to grow these numbers as the airline continues to take delivery of new airplanes and retrofit existing aircraft with its new United signature interiors. The inflight content is available in more than 20 different languages. The new United signature interiors include 16-inch HD touch screens in each United Polaris� business class seat, 13-inch screens in every United First Class seat and 10-inch screens in every United Economy seat. In addition to seatback screens in every seat, United's new signature interior also includes Bluetooth connectivity, power in every seat, larger overhead bins with room for everyone's rollaboard and LED lighting.

The new service will also benefit United's frontline employees � United pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents all use mobile devices to help run the operation and serve customers. As United rolls out the Starlink more broadly, it will give those teams the same rich capabilities in the air, as they have on the ground including when working in remote location or when traditional services might be impacted like during power outages or natural disasters.