United shares accelerated timeline for Starlink connectivity in the sky

First commercial flight with Starlink service now expected by spring

United Airlines has announced an accelerated timeline to bring Starlink to United travellers around the world.

The airline now expects to begin testing Starlink, the world's fastest and most reliable connectivity in the sky, next month with the first commercial flight anticipated to take off this spring on a United Embraer E-175 aircraft. 

United now plans to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of this year and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of this year. The end goal will be to add Starlink to its entire fleet.

Access will be free for all MileagePlus customers - it's free to sign up to become a member - and includes inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. 

Last September, United signed the industry's largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to bring Starlink to its entire fleet. 

This gate-to-gate connectivity will enable experiences in the sky at scale that no other major US airline is currently providing, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.

"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."