United Airlines Retrofits First Embraer E175 with Starlink Internet

Photo: Instagram/@united

United Airlines has reached an important milestone by installing Starlink WiFi on its first regional aircraft. The airline made this announcement on Friday, highlighting its plan to bring high-speed internet to more passengers. Starting in May and continuing through the end of 2025, United plans to install Starlink on over 40 regional aircraft every month. By the end of this year, the airline expects all its two-cabin regional jets to have Starlink connectivity.

Faster Internet for Passengers and Crew

United’s regional jets, like the Embraer 175, will now offer internet speeds of up to 250 Mbps. This is nearly 50 times faster than the WiFi currently available on these planes. With this upgrade, passengers can enjoy smooth streaming, online gaming, shopping, and social media browsing without interruptions.

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The improved internet will also help United’s flight crews. With better communication between the plane and ground operations, crews can work more efficiently and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.

Free WiFi for MileagePlus Members

In a big shift from its old policy, United is now offering Starlink WiFi for free to MileagePlus members. Previously, United charged MileagePlus members $8 and non-members $10 for WiFi access. Now, members can connect to high-speed internet without any extra cost. This allows them to stream movies, shop online, play games, and stay connected while flying.

United is the largest U.S. airline to partner with Starlink, and it hopes this upgrade will attract more business and premium travelers. The airline’s Vice President of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead, called this a major investment in customer experience.

"Our ability to launch this service so quickly is thanks to our advanced technology and expert team at United," Milstead said in a press release. "Starlink has been a great partner, and together, we plan to install Starlink on more than 300 regional jets before the end of this year."

Quick Installation and Lightweight Equipment

One reason United can roll out Starlink so fast is that the installation process has become much quicker. The equipment can now be installed on a plane in just eight hours, compared to the 10-day process for previous WiFi systems. The new Starlink hardware is also much lighter, weighing only 85 pounds instead of the older systems that weighed over 300 pounds. This makes it easier and faster to install, allowing United to equip more planes in less time.

United’s CEO, Scott Kirby, spoke about this upgrade during an earnings call on January 22. He said Starlink is just one part of a bigger effort to improve customer experience. The airline also plans to introduce better in-flight screens and digital services, making travel more enjoyable for passengers. With these changes, United hopes to strengthen its MileagePlus program, increase customer loyalty, and stand out from other airlines.

Starlink Expanding to More Airlines

United is not the only airline adopting Starlink technology. Other carriers, including Hawaiian Airlines and JSX, have already started using it. International airlines like Air France and airBaltic have also announced plans to install Starlink on their planes. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines is considering adding Starlink after its recent merger. Qatar Airways has already added Starlink to some of its larger planes, and airline group IAG is currently in talks with SpaceX to bring Starlink WiFi to its fleet.

In addition to commercial airlines, SpaceX is also working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to The Hill, SpaceX is providing free Starlink kits and service to the FAA, though it denied any attempt to take over Verizon’s contract for the agency’s upgraded communication system.

With more airlines and organizations adopting Starlink, the future of in-flight internet is looking brighter. United’s move to offer free, high-speed WiFi is a big step toward improving air travel and keeping passengers connected at all times.

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