United Airlines will offer free WiFi across its entire fleet, including mainline and regional aircraft.
The carrier expects to deploy the WiFi, powered by SpaceX's Starlink satellite service, on more than 1,000 planes over the next several years. Testing will begin early next year, with the first rollouts to passenger flights expected later in 2025.
With the move, United becomes the largest carrier to announce plans for free WiFi for all flyers. Delta currently offers free WiFi in partnership with Viasat and T-Mobile on approximately 700 aircraft, with implementation across its full fleet still underway. But that service is only provided to SkyMiles members.
JetBlue has long offered free WiFi to all customers.
Hawaiian is the only mainline U.S. airline that currently uses Starlink, with deployment of the free service still rolling out on its transoceanic fleet.
United said its Starlink high-speed WiFi will enable the same level of functionality as people experience on the ground. Flyers will be able to stream live, accomplish work tasks such as downloads and uploads, play live games, engage in e-commerce, and support multiple devices.
Flyers will be able to use the service on personal devices or on United seatback screens.
The free WiFi service could also bolster United's recently launched advertising platform Kinective Media, which enables clients to send targeted advertisements to flyers on seatback screens and United's app and website using anonymized customer demographic information they have purchased from the airline.