Tech mogul and billionaire Elon Musk achieved a big win as United Airlines is breaking free from Big Tech control by partnering with Musk’s Starlink to provide superior in-flight internet.
The airline received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for its first Starlink-equipped aircraft, an Embraer 175, offering patriots a connection that is 50 times faster than current options while flying American skies.
Thanks to SpaceX’s revolutionary Starlink technology, United Airlines passengers will soon be able to connect at high speeds while flying. The first commercial flight is scheduled for May 2025.
This American ingenuity marks a significant upgrade from the outdated, unreliable in-flight internet systems passengers have been forced to endure for years.
The airline has ambitious plans to install the Starlink systems on approximately 40 regional jets monthly, with over 300 planes expected to be upgraded by the end of next year.
The airline is working diligently with Starlink to secure FAA certification for more than 16 different aircraft types in its fleet, demonstrating a commitment to American technological advancement that other carriers have been slow to embrace.
The FAA has approved our first aircraft equipped with the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky. That green light means we expect to install Starlink on 40+ planes a month, with our entire regional fleet being outfitted by the end of year.
The first passenger flight that'll let customers… pic.twitter.com/di9LRyFdG3
— United Airlines (@united) March 31, 2025
American ingenuity is on full display with this partnership. The Starlink system, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, provides high-speed, low-latency internet globally through a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbits.
United Airlines’ decision to work with an American innovator like Musk rather than foreign technology providers highlights its commitment to American jobs and technology superiority.
“We know customers are going to love this experience, and we think it will give them yet another reason to choose United,” said Grant Milstead, United’s Vice President of Digital Technology.
When travelers are tired of paying exorbitant fees for basic services, United Airlines is refreshingly bucking the trend of corporate greed.
Starlink access will be completely free for all MileagePlus® customers. It offers high-speed Wi-Fi of up to 250 Mbps, which will support streaming, gaming, and even VPN access for business travelers who need to stay productive.
The first Starlink system was installed in Nashville, with United noting its superiority over existing options.
Musk’s company equipment is reportedly easier to install, lighter in weight, and more reliable than competing systems—all factors that contribute to more efficient operations and fewer delays for hardworking Americans trying to reach their destinations.
United’s deal with Starlink will eventually cover more than 1,000 aircraft, excluding the fleet’s smallest single-cabin regional jets.
This massive investment in American technology represents a significant shift away from reliance on outdated systems that have frustrated travelers for years.
Before full deployment, United will conduct a beta test of the Starlink technology on select flights to ensure everything meets its standards.
While other airlines, such as Hawaiian Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Air France, follow United’s lead by installing Starlink, United remains at the forefront of this technological revolution in American skies.
As the largest airline in the world by available seat miles, with major hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, United’s embrace of Starlink technology represents a significant vote of confidence in American innovation and free-market solutions to consumer demands.
