United Airlines has announced that it has begun the roll out of SpaceX’s Starlink WiFi connectivity system on its regional aircraft fleet. The announcement, made on March 7, 2025, also unveiled further details of the processes that underscore the technical operations benefits associated with the equipment, including size and weight as well as the ease of installation and maintenance.
In September 2024, United signed the airline industry’s largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet.
In January 2025, the Chicago-based carrier announced an accelerated timeline to bring Starlink to more passengers by deploying the system on its regional jet fleet. Now, with the first aircraft (an Embraer E175 regional jet) having already undergone the retrofitting process, United plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of 2025 and also have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of the year. Ultimately, United will add Starlink to its entire fleet. Starlink access will be free for all members of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program.
According to a United statement, the airline expects to outfit over 40 regional aircraft each month beginning in May through the end of 2025. The average Starlink installation time is about eight hours, excluding any de-installation of existing equipment, testing, or aircraft modification. This equates to taking approximately 10 times faster than installing non-Starlink equipment.
The airline adds that, “Starlink stands to not only unlock an incredible onboard experience for United customers for free and provide new onboard entertainment options but also enables a more streamlined install, maintenance and overall operation.” United also confirmed that customers onboard Starlink-equipped regional aircraft can expect Wi-Fi speeds up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps), which is 50 times faster than current regional aircraft speeds.
United is taking each plane out of service for just four days to de-install existing equipment, install Starlink, run tests, and close up the aircraft sections that are required to be opened during the installation. The entire Starlink installation kit weighs 85 pounds (38.5kg), compared to other inflight provider kits that can weigh up to 300 pounds (136kg), and is electronically steered with no moving parts, making it easier to transport and install and requiring less maintenance.
According to the carrier, once an aircraft is taken out of service for the installation, the existing Wi-Fi is uninstalled. Then the Starlink equipment is installed, including an internal reinforcement structure, external antenna and main cabin wireless access points and power supply. Finally, the team runs system checks before and after closing the interior.
“Our ability to roll out this innovative service with unprecedented speed and scale is a direct result of the advanced equipment, technology, and team of experts at United,” said United’s VP of Digital Technology, Grant Milstead. “Starlink has been a terrific partner – our combined spirit of innovation and collaboration will enable us to hit our goal of more than 300 regional aircraft installations before the end of this year.”
“We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year, and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can, as quickly as we can, is at the center of it all,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus. “It’s not only going to revolutionize the experience of flying United, but it’s also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”
