United schedules first Starlink-equipped mainline flight for takeoff

United Airlines is preparing to operate its first mainline flight with Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi, marking a milestone achievement in the airline’s plan to bring satellite internet to its entire fleet. 

The inaugural flight, United 2940, is scheduled to depart Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and fly to Houston (IAH) on October 15, 2025, using a Boeing 737-800 fitted with Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit antenna system. The same aircraft will continue flying as United 365 from Houston to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and United 445 back to Houston later in the day. 

The move expands United’s partnership with SpaceX beyond its regional operations, where more than half of its Embraer 175 jets already offer free Starlink service to MileagePlus members. The new installation brings the technology to United’s larger mainline aircraft for the first time. 

High-speed Wi-Fi at no extra cost 

United says passengers on Starlink-equipped flights will enjoy fast, reliable internet capable of streaming video, participating in video calls, and connecting multiple devices — all free for MileagePlus customers. Travelers will be notified during booking and boarding when their flight features Starlink connectivity. 

The airline plans to ramp up installations quickly, adding Starlink hardware to as many as 15 Boeing 737-800s per month. United also expects to extend the system to additional aircraft types once the FAA grants supplemental type certifications later this year. 

Until now, United’s in-flight connectivity has relied on several different vendors, including Intelsat (formerly Gogo), Panasonic Avionics, Thales, and Viasat, depending on aircraft type and route. Those systems use a mix of air-to-ground and traditional geostationary satellite links. 

By comparison, Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit network offers much lower latency and higher speeds — more like home broadband than the slow, patchy Wi-Fi many travelers have come to expect aloft. 

While neither United nor SpaceX has disclosed pricing, analysts say Starlink’s costs are roughly comparable to existing satellite services but deliver better performance. 

Regulatory and technical progress 

The FAA granted United approval in September 2025 to install Starlink antennas on its 737-800s, clearing the way for mainline operations. The airline received a similar certification earlier this year for its Embraer 175 regional fleet. 

Each 737-800 will carry two Starlink antennas, providing redundancy and stronger coverage on longer routes. Installation work is being performed at United’s Houston maintenance base, which serves as the hub for the airline’s connectivity upgrades. 

United’s rollout positions it among the first major carriers to integrate Starlink across both regional and mainline aircraft. Other airlines — including Hawaiian, Air New Zealand, and Qatar Airways — have announced plans to adopt the service, but United’s scale gives it a headstart in the US market. 

Starlink’s rapid expansion into commercial aviation represents a challenge to legacy providers like Panasonic and Viasat, which have dominated the in-flight internet business for years. SpaceX’s network, now numbering more than 6,000 active satellites, offers global coverage and growing bandwidth capacity that could redefine the passenger Wi-Fi experience in the years ahead. The post United schedules first Starlink-equipped mainline flight for takeoff appeared first on AeroTime.

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