Overview
- United operated its first Starlink-equipped transatlantic widebody customer flight on June 22 when Flight 14 departed Newark for London aboard a Boeing 777-200.
- The carrier says more than 400 aircraft are currently fitted with Starlink and it expects close to 1,000 Starlink-equipped planes by the end of 2026 with nearly 60 widebody installs planned this year.
- Starlink Wi‑Fi is offered free to MileagePlus members and customers receive advance notice when their flight is Starlink-equipped.
- United is trialing live TV streaming from DIRECTV on Starlink-enabled seatback screens through July 20 on as many as 150 aircraft, including live sports and news channels.
- The rollout has depended on FAA supplemental type certifications for each model and faster install times for certified aircraft, and it aims to deliver lower-latency, streaming-capable service over oceans and polar routes that current satellite systems struggle to cover.