United Airlines (UAL, Financial), one of the largest airlines in the United States, said on Sunday that it will begin using Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink for in-flight Wi-Fi starting February, with plans to roll out the service on an Embraer E-175 aircraft this spring. It also plans to roll out the satellite-based service across its two-cabin regional fleet and its first plane with Starlink to fly on key routes by the end of this year. In the future, Starlink will become available on all United’s planes, enhancing passengers’ internet connection during the flight.
However, the airline changed its first strategy to allow free Wi-Fi for all passengers on board. It will only be free for those customers who are MileagePlus members. United had inked an agreement with Starlink to make internet connectivity available to more than a thousand of its planes in the next several years. Last year, Starlink struck similar deals with other airlines in an effort to offer its satellite internet services beyond the rural homes and into the commercial aviation market.
This action of United demonstrated the company’s continuing focus on improving the passengers’ experience as well as leveraging on latest satellite technology.
