United Airlines has received federal approval to begin flying its first regional jet equipped with Starlink satellite internet, reports the company.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued certification for the Embraer 175 aircraft, and United says its first customer flight using Starlink Wi-Fi will take off in May 2025.
The approval comes less than eight months after United first announced its partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink. The airline plans to install Starlink on about 40 regional jets per month, with a goal to upgrade its entire two-cabin regional fleet—more than 300 aircraft—by the end of this year.
Ahead of the rollout, United will test the system on select flights to fine-tune the passenger experience.
“We know customers are going to love this,” said Grant Milstead, United’s VP of Digital Technology on Monday. “It’s one more reason to fly United.”
Unlike existing inflight Wi-Fi systems, Starlink promises much faster speeds—up to 250 Mbps. United says the new service will be free for MileagePlus members and support streaming, online shopping, gaming, and more. MileagePlus membership is free and available to anyone who signs up online.
United also noted that the Starlink hardware is smaller and lighter than other systems, which makes installation faster and reduces fuel usage.
The airline is working with Starlink to secure certification for all 16 aircraft types across its regional and mainline fleet.
