Image: United Airlines
United Airlines is taking its partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to the biggest stage in advertising. The carrier is set to run a 30-second Super Bowl commercial this Sunday, highlighting its rapidly expanding Starlink-powered in-flight Wi-Fi and underscoring just how central satellite internet has become to United’s onboard experience.
As United explains, “In less than a year, United has equipped most of its two-cabin regional fleet – more than 300 aircraft – with Starlink, the fastest, most reliable high-speed Wi-Fi in the sky. Over the last 10 months, the airline has flown more than 7 million passengers on Starlink-equipped aircraft across more than 129,000 flights, powering 3.7 million devices – and Wi-Fi customer satisfaction scores on those airplanes nearly doubled during that time.”
That rollout is already having a material impact on United’s daily operations. “Today, more than 25% of United’s daily departures – 1,200 flights – have Starlink Wi-Fi. The airline expects to equip more than 500 mainline aircraft with Starlink Wi-Fi by the end of 2026, bringing the total number of Starlink-equipped planes across its fleet to more than 800,” the airline added.
United first launched Starlink aboard its regional aircraft last year, before debuting the service on its first mainline jet later in the fall. Since then, the airline has aggressively accelerated installations, equipping nearly its entire regional fleet.
The Super Bowl spotlight comes as Starlink gains serious momentum across aviation. International carriers like Emirates and flydubai have signed on, while British Airways plans to roll out free Starlink-powered Wi-Fi starting this year. In the U.S., Alaska Airlines is fast-tracking Starlink deployment across its entire fleet after successful early tests.
United Airlines provides Starlink Wi-Fi for free to MileagePlus members. Crucially, SpaceX has made it clear that this isn’t a temporary perk. Starlink’s aviation leadership recently confirmed that airlines partnering with the service are expected to keep satellite Wi-Fi free for passengers — a major shift in an industry long associated with slow speeds and pricey access.
For United, the Super Bowl ad isn’t just marketing hype. It’s a signal that fast, free in-flight connectivity is quickly becoming table stakes.
