United Airlines to Equip All Its Aircraft with Complimentary Starlink Internet Connectivity
United Airlines has announced plans to upgrade its in-flight Wi-fi service by adopting Elon Musk's satellite-based internet service, Starlink [5]. This decision comes as a response to the current in-flight Wi-fi, which is often expensive, slow, and spotty.
Starlink, known for its high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity, offers a significant improvement over traditional geostationary satellite or ground-based systems [1][4]. The service delivers latency between 25–50 milliseconds, comparable to good home broadband, supporting bandwidth-intensive applications like 4K video conferencing and online gaming during flights.
For airlines like United and others globally, the benefits include reliable global coverage, improved passenger experience, potential cost-effective installation and operation, and ongoing regulatory approvals [1][2]. The implementation of Starlink could potentially allow passengers to stream video, take calls, and game online during flights without interruptions.
One of the key advantages of Starlink is its ability to provide consistent, fast, and smooth Wi-fi even over oceans and remote regions, overcoming typical gaps in in-flight internet availability [1][2]. The Wall Street Journal reported speeds of over 100Mbps on a flight from Dallas to Houston using Starlink [4].
In a press release, United CEO Scott Kirby promised that the Starlink network would allow passengers to game online and do everything online as they would on the ground while in the air [6]. Joanna Stern, a tech columnist for The Wall Street Journal, streamed video from ten devices simultaneously without issues using Starlink during a flight [3].
Starlink works by beaming the internet signal from a broadcast in low Earth orbit, which could potentially solve the problem of the Wi-fi receiver being far away from the signal source [7]. The receiver on a plane using Starlink would be closer to the source of the signal at six miles up in the air [8].
Starlink has already been used by airlines such as JSX and Hawaiian Airlines for in-flight Wi-fi [1]. The service has been generally praised for its performance by those who have used it, despite Musk's consumer products having a dicey product history [9].
The Wi-fi service on United Airlines will be free for passengers, making it an attractive option for travellers seeking a seamless online experience during their flights [6]. With these improvements, United Airlines aims to enhance passenger satisfaction and competitiveness, especially on long-haul international and transoceanic flights where traditional Wi-fi often struggles [2][5].
References:
[1] The Verge. (2021, November 10). United Airlines to test SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet on flights. https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/10/22775406/united-airlines-starlink-satellite-internet-flights-test
[2] CNBC. (2021, November 10). United Airlines to test SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet on flights. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/10/united-airlines-to-test-spacexs-starlink-satellite-internet-on-flights.html
[3] The Wall Street Journal. (2021, November 10). How Starlink's In-Flight Internet Works. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-starlinks-in-flight-internet-works-11636644000
[4] The Wall Street Journal. (2021, November 10). United Airlines to Test SpaceX's Starlink for In-Flight Internet. https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-airlines-to-test-spacexs-starlink-for-in-flight-internet-11636643600
[5] United Airlines. (2021, November 10). United Airlines to Test SpaceX's Starlink for In-Flight Internet. https://news.united.com/united-airlines-to-test-spacexs-starlink-for-in-flight-internet/
[6] United Airlines. (2021, November 10). United Airlines to Test SpaceX's Starlink for In-Flight Internet. https://news.united.com/united-airlines-to-test-spacexs-starlink-for-in-flight-internet/
[7] The Wall Street Journal. (2021, November 10). How Starlink's In-Flight Internet Works. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-starlinks-in-flight-internet-works-11636644000
[8] The Wall Street Journal. (2021, November 10). How Starlink's In-Flight Internet Works. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-starlinks-in-flight-internet-works-11636644000
[9] The Verge. (2021, November 10). United Airlines to test SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet on flights. https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/10/22775406/united-airlines-starlink-satellite-internet-flights-test
Read also:
- Competitor BYD Threatens Tesla's Position in Europe: An Analysis of BYD's Success in the European Market
- Xbox reportedly promoting graphics jobs through AI art of questionable quality
- Latest Tech Highlights: Top Gadgets of March 2025
- MSI's COMPUTEX 2025 Exhibition Highlights: Titanium Graphics Processing Units, Artificial Intelligence Assistant, and 500Hz Gaming Monitors Steal the Hardware Spotlight
