On August 24, 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 737-MAX 8 aircraft took off from San Diego International Airport in California, bound for New York.
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United Airlines Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi on hundreds of its jetliners using Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink, the satellite service provider said on Friday, in the satellite service provider’s largest in-flight Internet deal yet.
The partnership comes as airlines have been investing in faster in-flight Wi-Fi, sometimes offering it for free, to attract high-paying customers such as business travelers.
Delta Air Lines It was announced in early 2023 that members of the SkyMiles loyalty program will have free in-flight Internet access. Hawaiian AirlinesIn agreement with Starlink, free in-flight Wi-Fi is also available. JetBlue Airways Free Wi-Fi has been available for many years.
SpaceX also previously struck a deal with semi-private airline JSX.
United currently offers inflight Internet service from a number of providers, including Via Satellite and Panasonic, and charges $8 for loyalty program members and $10 for others to use on domestic and short-haul international flights.
The airline said it expects to have Starlink on more than 1,000 of its planes “in the coming years” and that the first passenger flights will be equipped with the service starting early next year. United said Wi-Fi will provide “door-to-door” connectivity.
United Airlines praised SpaceX’s satellite service, saying it provides “internet access around the world, including oceans, polar regions and other remote areas previously unreachable through traditional mobile phone or Wi-Fi signals.” A selling point for American Airlines that offers the most services in-house.
Since its debut in 2020, SpaceX has been steadily expanding its Starlink network and product offerings. SpaceX initially targeted consumer customers but has expanded into other markets including aviation.
