United receives FAA approval for first Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft

United Airlines has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its first mainline aircraft fitted with SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi.  

On September 26, 2025, the US-based carrier confirmed that a Boeing 737-800 had been certified, with the first commercial flight planned for October 15, 2025, between Newark and New York. 

The FAA approved Starlink’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) amendment for the Boeing 737-800 to include United’s fleet.   

On September 13, 2024, United announced a landmark deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for its entire fleet to be fitted with satellite enabled high-speed Wi-Fi. 

The latest certification also comes less than five months since the first Starlink-equipped United customer flight on the Embraer 175 regional aircraft.  

More than half of United’s regional fleet is now Starlink-equipped with the carrier installing the system on around 50 jets each month.  

“Customers are loving the Starlink experience onboard our regional aircraft, and our first Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft will bring a superior inflight experience to even more people,” said Grant Milstead, United’s Vice President of Digital Technology.  

He added: “We’re working to install Starlink and offer game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.”    

United has more than 16 regional and mainline aircraft models that are receiving the new equipment, each of which requires an FAA STC to install Starlink. 

According to United, the FAA certification process involves “approval of the design, installation, testing and certification of the system to ensure safe and reliable operations”. 

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