United Airlines plans to introduce in 2025 free “fast, reliable Wi-Fi service” provided by Starlink to the airline’s mainline and regional aircraft fleet, the carrier announced Friday.
United would be the second major U.S. carrier to offer free Wi-Fi, following Delta Air Lines, which began offering free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members in February 2023.
The new “gate-to-gate connectivity” will be added on all United aircraft (more than 1,000 planes) over the next several years. Testing is scheduled to begin in early 2025 with the first passenger flights to include the service expected later that year, according to United. Customers will be able to use the Starlink connectivity on personal devices as well as on seatback screens.
As for whether there will be any requirements to access the free Wi-Fi, such as being a member of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program, “the exact details of this are still under development,” according to a United spokesperson.
