United Airlines is set to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi via the SpaceX satellite internet service Starlink, the company said in an announcement Friday.
“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 Scott Kirby, United’s CEO, in the announcement. “This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, that’s more personalized.”
The airline said it expects the technology to be on all of the over 1,000 United aircrafts “over the next several years.” It also said the start of 2025 will mark the commencement of “testing” and the first passenger flights with the service are expected later in the year.
“We’re excited to team up with @United Airlines to transform the in-flight experience across their fleet of more than 1,000 planes!” said SpaceX Chief Operating Officer and President Gwynne Shotwell in a post on X. “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.”
Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX, which is owned by Elon Musk, the controversial tech billionaire who endorsed former President Trump in mid-July after an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.