United inks deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to offer free WiFi on flights

A United Airlines Boeing 777.

United Airlines is turning to Elon Musk’s satellite service to offer free WiFi on its flights.

The airline announced on Friday it had struck a deal with SpaceX and will soon provide free WiFi on all its aircraft using the company’s satellite internet provider, Starlink.

United said the Starlink-powered internet connection will allow passengers to stream movies and work while on the move.

The airline plans to test the service in early 2025, with the first connected passenger flights expected later that year.

United passengers currently pay $10 for WiFi or $8 for members of the company’s MileagePlus frequent-flyer program.

United is the latest airline to adopt Starlink, which uses a network of thousands of satellites to supply internet signal almost anywhere in the world, including to remote areas or on cruise ships and yachts.

Hawaiian Airlines began offering free Starlink access on board its flights earlier this year, and regional jet firm JSX struck a deal with SpaceX back in 2022.

Other airlines are also choosing to offer free in-flight WiFi, with Delta announcing last year that it would offer free internet access on most of its flights.

Not everyone has been convinced by Musk’s Starlink, however.

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle said in 2022 that Starlink would need to get cheaper before he would consider adding it to the low-cost airlines’ flights.

SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from B-17, sent outside normal working hours.