United Airlines – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has signed the industry’s largest agreement of its kind with SpaceX to provide Starlink connectivity onboard for free.
The airline’s customers will soon enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air that they enjoy on the ground. The new, gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock game-changing experiences in the sky, such as access to live TV and streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more, on seatback screens and personal devices simultaneously.
United expects to have Starlink on all aircraft over the next several years. Testing begins in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later that year.
“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 – more content, that’s more personalised. United’s culture of innovation is, once again, delivering big for our customers.”
In addition to using Starlink connectivity on personal devices, United customers will also have access on their seatback screens. United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with plans to grow these numbers as the airline continues to take delivery of new aircraft and retrofit existing aircraft with its new United signature interiors.
“We’re excited to team up with United Airlines to transform the inflight experience,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer, 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.”
Hear more from United Airlines at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” – taking place in Los Angeles on 28-30 October 2024. Kristen Berndt, Senior Manager, Customer Strategy & Innovation, United Airlines; Sagi Varghese, Managing Director, Airport Operations & CSD Technology, United Airlines; and Stanley Tran, Corporate Development – United Airlines Ventures, United Airlines, are among the inspirational speakers.
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