United Airlines offers free Wi-Fi through Elon Musk's Starlink

United said it expects the technology to eventually be on all of the more than 1,000 United aircrafts in the next few years.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: September 14, 2024 6:25pm

United Airlines is going to offer free Wi-Fi through the SpaceX satellite internet service, Starlink.

“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,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement on Friday.

“This connectivity opens the door for an even better inflight entertainment experience, in every seatback – more content, that’s more personalized," the statement continued.

United said it expects the technology to eventually be on all of the more than 1,000 United aircrafts in the next few years, according to The Hill. It will begin "testing" in early 2025 with the first passenger flights with the service to come later in the year.

Starlink is a division of Elon Musk's SpaceX.

“We’re excited to team up with @United Airlines to transform the in-flight experience across their fleet of more than 1,000 planes!” SpaceX Chief Operating Officer and President Gwynne Shotwell wrote 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.”