United Airlines will be integrating Starlink in-flight connectivity sooner than expected, following an initial agreement signed in September 2024.

The airline intends to begin trials for the onboard Wi-Fi on an Embraer E175 next month when testing was originally anticipated later in the year. Following the trials, United expects to outfit the full E175 fleet by the end of 2025, with the aim of installing Starlink on the whole United fleet.

The connectivity service, as well as shopping, gaming, and streaming, will be provided on a complimentary basis for MileagePlus customers, the airline’s loyalty programme.

“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 centre of it all,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. “It’s not only going to revolutionise 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.”

Starlink, engineered by SpaceX, uses a low-Earth orbit satellite constellation to provide passengers with seamless internet, even when over the ocean.

Photo: United Airlines