Starlink. Photo: miss.cabul / Shutterstock Nearly a year after it inked its landmark agreement with SpaceX, the major airline that flies 140 million passengers to over 300 destinations across six continents each year, United Airlines, is soaring to the next stage. Following installation in the regional fleet, United will launch the first flight with Starlink on a Boeing 737-800, offering fast and free internet to MileagePlus members. The first flight is set for October 15, 2025.
As reported by PassportNews in January this year, United Airlines counted among the world's first airlines to sign a major agreement with SpaceX to integrate Starlink technology into its entire regional and international aircraft fleet.
Now, the initiative has received an official stamp of approval, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the USA has authorized the first installation of Starlink internet on the company's Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The certification was awarded less than a year after the agreement was signed and within five months of the first commercial flight in the regional fleet, which was conducted on an Embraer 175 aircraft.
United announced that installation has been completed on the first 737-800 aircraft, and the first commercial flight in the "mainline" fleet with Starlink will depart on October 15, 2025, from New York's Newark Airport.
Simultaneously, the technology has already been installed on more than half of the regional fleet's aircraft, with approximately 50 more planes being added each month. The company reports particularly high customer satisfaction, with 90% of clients noting that they enjoyed the capability to stream high-quality content during the flight.
Starlink connection will be offered free to all MileagePlus members, enabling browsing speeds of up to 250 megabits per second, sufficient for streaming movies, shopping online, gaming, and digital content.
"Customers love the Starlink experience on regional fleet planes, and now it will reach our main fleet as well," said Grant Milstead, United's vice president of digital technology. "This is a phenomenal enhancement to flight experience and a gateway to the next-generation entertainment and technology experience."
Beyond passenger convenience, the installation also offers operational benefits: the equipment is lighter, reliable, and weather-resistant, leading to simpler installation, easier maintenance, and fuel savings due to the reduced weight.
United plans to install Starlink on more than 16 different aircraft models in both main and regional fleets, expanding the service to all passengers. This move is expected to position United as one of the most innovative airlines in passenger experience, with the fastest internet in the skies.