United Airlines flights are set to offer access to Elon Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi services starting this spring, marking a significant expansion of the tech billionaire's influence. The airline will commence testing Starlink in February, with the first commercial flight featuring the service scheduled for this spring on its Embraer E-175 aircraft. United aims to equip its entire two-cabin regional fleet with Starlink by the end of 2025 and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane operational by year-end.
Eventually, Starlink will be accessible on all United flights, providing passengers with a range of services including streaming, shopping, gaming, and more. This partnership between United and Starlink, agreed upon in September, will grant complimentary access to Starlink for all United MileagePlus members.
Elon Musk, the visionary behind companies like Tesla and SpaceX, has leveraged his diverse business portfolio and substantial wealth to extend his influence beyond the tech sector. The collaboration with United underscores how Musk's enterprises are penetrating various industries within the US economy.
United is not the only airline embracing high-speed internet services during flights. Hawaiian Airlines announced in September that it would offer free Starlink to all passengers on Airbus-operated flights connecting the islands with the continental United States, Asia, and Oceania. JSX, a semi-private charter firm, also provides complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi on its fleet of 46 aircraft.
Delta Air Lines recently disclosed that free Wi-Fi will be accessible to members of its SkyMiles loyalty program, while JetBlue Airways has been offering complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi since 2017. The availability of in-flight internet dates back to 2003 when Boeing introduced its Connexion service. However, Boeing discontinued the service in 2006 due to the market not meeting expectations.
