United will be bringing Starlink¡¯s newest fast and reliable Wi-Fi
service to the airline fleet¡ªfor free.
United
customers will soon enjoy the same high-speed Internet service in the air
that they experience on the ground. Highlights will include live TV and streaming
services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, available on seatback screens and
personal devices simultaneously.
Service testing begins in early 2025 with the first
passenger flights expected later next year. Over the next several years, United
expects to have Starlink on its more than 1,000 planes.
Starlink is engineered by SpaceX and
delivers Internet access around the world, including over oceans, polar regions
and other remote locations previously unreachable by traditional cell or Wi-Fi
signals. United will be the first carrier in the world to offer Starlink
service at this scale.
"Everything you can do on the ground, you'll soon be
able to do onboard a United plane at 35,000 feet, just about anywhere in the
world," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "This connectivity opens the
door for an even better inflight entertainment experience, in every seatback ¨C
more content, that's more personalized. United's culture of innovation is, once
again, delivering big for our customers."
"We're excited to team up with United Airlines to
transform the inflight experience," added Gwynne Shotwell, President and
Chief Operating Officer at SpaceX. "With Starlink onboard your United
flight, you'll have access to the world's most advanced high-speed internet
from gate to gate, and all the miles in between."
United's new Starlink Wi-Fi service will include:
- Live streaming: access personal streaming
services and watch live TV, shows and movies without buffering, lag or the need
to download content in advance.
- Workplace productivity: download/upload
documents and edit shared files in real-time.
- Gaming: play live games and follow along on live
gaming streaming services.
- E-Commerce: shop online, schedule grocery
delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of
your seat.
- Multiple devices: connect multiple devices at
once, under one user.
In-flight content is available in more than 20 different
languages. New signature interiors include 16-inch HD touch screens in each
United Polaris business class seat, 13-inch screens in every United first-class
seat and 10-inch screens in every United economy seat.
In addition, United's new interior includes Bluetooth
connectivity, power in every seat, larger overhead bins with room for
everyone's rollaboard and LED lighting.
The new service will also benefit United's frontline
employees as pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents all use
mobile devices to help run the operation and serve customers.
As United rolls out Starlink more broadly, it will give
those teams the same capabilities in the air as they have on the ground
including when working in remote locations or when traditional services might be
impacted during power outages or natural disasters.
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