Wi-Fi on United aircraft. Photo: United Airlines In less than a year, United Airlines has transformed the Wi-Fi experience on its regional flights by equipping over 300 two-cabin aircraft with Starlink, the high-speed satellite internet system. Over the past 10 months, more than 7 million passengers have flown on these planes across 129,000 flights, connecting 3.7 million devices. The results speak for themselves: Wi-Fi satisfaction scores on these aircraft have nearly doubled, showing just how much travelers appreciate the upgrade.
Currently, more than 25% of United’s daily departures, around 1,200 flights, offer Starlink Wi-Fi, and the airline plans to expand the system to over 500 mainline aircraft by the end of 2026. That will bring the total number of Starlink-equipped planes across United’s fleet to more than 800.
Photo: United AirlinesTo celebrate the milestone, United is highlighting Starlink in a new ad set to air during the Big Game on February 8. The commercial draws inspiration from space travel, showing passengers using Starlink for live sports, online gaming, and even checking home security cameras, all from 30,000 feet in the air. A voiceover mimicking communication between ground control and the cockpit sums it up: “It’s Wi-Fi that actually works? That’s one giant leap for in-flight Wi-Fi.”
Maggie Schmerin, United’s Chief Advertising Officer, explained the approach: “We are focused on what we call ‘travel truths’ in our advertising, so with this spot we wanted to recognize the truly giant leap Starlink Wi-Fi represents for our customers and what is now possible. Starlink is transforming the inflight experience on United planes with reliable connectivity that enables everything from productivity to streaming the biggest football game of the season.”
The ad will air in key markets where Starlink-equipped aircraft operate, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. In some cities, more than half of United flights are now Starlink-enabled, 63% in Indianapolis, 53% in Kansas City, and 51% in Cincinnati.
Grant Milstead, United’s VP of Digital Technology, highlighted the rapid rollout: “United customers are loving the new Wi-Fi experience onboard our Starlink-equipped aircraft. We’re rolling out Starlink at an unprecedented speed and scale, and our milestone for our regional fleet is just the beginning. This is all part of our commitment to bring this innovative service to our entire fleet.”
Looking ahead, United plans to accelerate Starlink installation across its mainline fleet. The airline is currently working together with Starlink to get FAA approval for installation on dozens of aircraft models. The list includes the iconic Boeing 737-900ERs, Boeing 777s, and the Airbus A321 family. What does this mean to future travelers? Reliable, gate-to-gate connectivity, whether streaming entertainment or staying productive at 35,000 feet.
The airline has also informed passengers of a scheduled tech upgrade on February 4, 2026, from 1:30 - 5:00 AM CST, when "many of our web and app services will NOT be available for anyone", including United employees.
"You can book, complete check-in, or make trip changes prior to February 4 at 1:30 AM CST or when the technology upgrade is complete," said the announcement.