The in-flight Wi-Fi revolution is underway: United signs agreement with Starlink to deliver cutting-edge connectivity in the sky – for free

United today set a new standard for in-flight connectivity by signing the largest agreement of its kind in the industry with SpaceX to bringStarlink's fast and reliable Wi-Fi serviceto the airline's fleet of mainline and regional aircraft, free of charge.

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 provide revolutionary experiences in the sky at a scale that no other major U.S. airline offers, including access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.

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United plans to have Starlink on all United aircraft — more than 1,000 planes — within the next few years. Testing will begin in early 2025, with the first passenger flights scheduled for later this year.

Starlink service on United aircraft will be free.

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Leveraging advanced satellites and deep experience in space and orbital operations, Starlink is designed by SpaceX and delivers internet access around the world, including over oceans, polar regions and other remote locations previously inaccessible by traditional cellular or Wi-Fi signals. United is the largest airline across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and will be the first carrier in the world to commit to Starlink service at this scale.

“Anything you can do on the ground, you will soon be able to do on a United aircraft at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the world,” United’s CEO said.Scott Kirby. “This connectivity opens the door to an even better in-flight entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, more personalized. United’s culture of innovation is, once again, a great benefit to our customers.”

“We are excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the in-flight experience,” saidGwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX. “With Starlink on board your United flight, you’ll have access to the world’s most advanced high-speed internet from gate to gate and every mile in between.”

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

• Live streaming:Access personal streaming services and watch live TV, shows and movies without buffering, lag or the need to download content in advance.
• Productivity at work:upload/download documents and edit shared files in real-time.
• Games :play live games and follow live game streaming services.
• E-Commerce: Shop online, schedule grocery delivery, and make restaurant and travel reservations from the comfort of your seat.
• Multiple devices:connect multiple devices at once, under one user.
• Live assistance with the United app:Download the United app in-flight for real-time connection information and access to customer support from a real agent through Agent on Demand.

In addition to using Starlink connectivity on personal devices, United customers will also have access to it on their seatback screens. United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with plans to increase those numbers as the airline continuesto take delivery of new aircraftand modernize existing aircraft with its new United Signature Interiors. In-flight content is available in more than 20 different languages. United's new Signature Interiors include 16-inch HD touchscreens in everyUnited Polaris® seatBusiness Class, 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 skateboard and LED lighting.

The new service will also benefit United’s frontline employees: United’s pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents all use mobile devices to help manage operations and serve customers. As United rolls out Starlink more broadly, it will give these teams the same rich capabilities in the air as they have on the ground, including when they’re working in a remote location or when traditional services may be impacted, such as during power outages or natural disasters.

United's Cutting-Edge Innovations

Unitedis recognized as one of the most innovative companies in the worldand recently launched a series of industry-leading policies, products and services:

• Mobile application with live activities: United has the world's most downloaded airline mobile app and is the only U.S. airline to offerlive activitieswhich give to customersreal-time accessto their boarding pass, gate and seat number and the countdown to departure on their phone's home screen.
• ConnectionSaver:United is the only airline that uses proprietary technology to determine the best time to hold a flight for a few extra minutes so more people can catch their connection.
• Stuck in a middle seat? : United is the only airline where customers can save their seat preference in the app andmove to a better seat– free of charge – if it becomes available before departure.
• Free family seats:United is the first and only airline to offer a dynamic digital seat map that allows children under 12 to be seated next to an adult in their party for free at the time of booking.Since this feature was launched last year, United has helped hundreds of thousands of families book seats together for free.
• Real-time SMS updates:Using AI tools, United sends travelers text messages that provide personalized travel updates on everything from gate changes and boarding times to more specific details like plane swaps and weather events, now even includinglive radar maps.
• Automatic new booking assistance: Instead of waiting in line to speak to an agent or research new options,self-service toolsUnited automatically presents travelers with personalized rebooking options, baggage tracking information, and meal and hotel vouchers when eligible if their flight is delayed or canceled.
• Wheelchair Reservation Tool: Unitedlauncheda new digital sizing tool that helps customers determine the right plane for their wheelchair.
• Agent on Demand: United's patented on-demand virtual customer service tool allows customers to video chat, text or call a customer service representative instead of waiting in line at the airport.
• Pooling miles: Unitedbecame the firstmajor U.S. airline to allow members of its loyalty program, MileagePlus, to pool their miles with family and friends in a joint account.

About United

At United,good leads the way. With US hubs inChicago,Denver,Houston,Los Angeles,new York/Newark,San FranciscoAndWashington, DC, United operates the most comprehensive global route network of any North American carrier and is now the world's largest airline in terms of available seat miles. To learn more about joining the United team, please visitwww.united.com/careersand for more information about the company, visitwww.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL.”

About Starlink

Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users around the world. As the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using low Earth orbit, Starlink provides high-speed internet access capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calling and more. Starlink is designed and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading launch services provider, SpaceX leverages its extensive experience in space and orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced high-speed internet system.

SOURCE United Airlines