United Airlines Brings Starlink Wi-Fi to Over 300 Regional Planes

Airline completes Starlink installation on most of its two-cabin regional fleet and plans to equip over 500 mainline aircraft by 2026.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:31pm

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In less than a year, United Airlines has installed Starlink, the fastest and most reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, on more than 300 of its two-cabin regional aircraft. The airline now has Starlink Wi-Fi on over 25% of its daily departures, and customer satisfaction scores on those flights have nearly doubled. United plans to expand Starlink to over 500 mainline aircraft by the end of 2026, transforming the inflight connectivity experience for its passengers.

Why it matters

United's rapid rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across its regional and mainline fleets represents a major leap forward in inflight connectivity. Reliable, high-speed internet access at 30,000 feet enables passengers to stream live content, play online games, and stay productive - capabilities that were previously limited with traditional satellite Wi-Fi. This upgrade positions United as an industry leader in delivering a modern, seamless travel experience.

The details

In less than a year, United has equipped over 300 of its two-cabin regional aircraft with Starlink Wi-Fi, powering more than 7 million passenger trips across 129,000 flights. The airline now has Starlink on over 25% of its daily departures, and customer satisfaction scores for inflight Wi-Fi have nearly doubled on those Starlink-equipped planes. United plans to expand Starlink to over 500 mainline aircraft by the end of 2026, bringing the total number of Starlink-equipped planes in its fleet to over 800.

  • In the last 10 months, United has flown more than 7 million passengers on Starlink-equipped aircraft.
  • United expects to equip more than 500 mainline aircraft with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2026.

The players

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that has rapidly deployed Starlink Wi-Fi across its regional and mainline aircraft fleets.

Starlink

A satellite internet service operated by SpaceX that provides high-speed, reliable connectivity for United's inflight Wi-Fi.

Maggie Schmerin

United's Chief Advertising Officer, who discussed the airline's new Big Game ad spotlighting the Starlink Wi-Fi experience.

Grant Milstead

United's VP of Digital Technology, who commented on the customer satisfaction and rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across United's fleet.

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What they’re saying

“We are focused on what we call 'travel truths' in our advertising, so with this spot we wanted to recognize the truly giant leap Starlink Wi-Fi represents for our customers and what is now possible. Starlink is transforming the inflight experience on United planes with reliable connectivity that enables everything from productivity to streaming the biggest football game of the season.”

— Maggie Schmerin, United's Chief Advertising Officer (ala.aero)

“United customers are loving the new Wi-Fi experience onboard our Starlink-equipped aircraft. We're rolling out Starlink at an unprecedented speed and scale, and our milestone for our regional fleet is just the beginning – with more than 500 mainline aircraft expected to be equipped by the end of 2026. This is all part of our commitment to bring this innovative service to our entire fleet.”

— Grant Milstead, United's VP of Digital Technology (ala.aero)

What’s next

United will seek FAA approval to install and operate Starlink Wi-Fi on more than a dozen different aircraft models, including the Boeing 737-900ER, Airbus A321 family, and Boeing 777s, as it accelerates the rollout to its mainline fleet in 2023.

The takeaway

United's rapid deployment of Starlink Wi-Fi across its regional and mainline aircraft demonstrates the airline's commitment to providing passengers with a modern, seamless inflight connectivity experience. This upgrade positions United as an industry leader in high-speed, reliable internet access at 30,000 feet, enabling new levels of productivity, entertainment, and communication for travelers.