Airlines

United Airlines Brings Free Starlink Wi-Fi to the Skies with SpaceX Partnership

United Airlines is setting a new benchmark for inflight connectivity by entering into the industry’s largest agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed, reliable Wi-Fi service to its fleet.

This move will cover both mainline and regional aircraft, offering passengers a seamless internet experience, free of charge.

With Starlink’s satellite-powered, low-latency internet service, United passengers will soon enjoy the same high-speed browsing in the sky as they do on the ground. The gate-to-gate connectivity will unlock a range of digital experiences—unmatched by any other major U.S. airline—making it possible to stream live TV, use social media, shop, game, and more, whether on personal devices or seatback screens.

United plans to outfit more than 1,000 aircraft with Starlink, with testing set to begin in early 2025 and the first passenger flights expected later that year. As the largest airline across both the Atlantic and Pacific, United will be the first to bring Starlink’s capabilities at such a significant scale. Passengers can expect uninterrupted Wi-Fi service even over oceans, polar regions, and other remote locations that have traditionally been out of reach for inflight connectivity.

Key benefits of United’s new Starlink service include:

Live streaming: Passengers can stream movies, shows, and TV without buffering or the need for pre-downloaded content.
Workplace productivity: Real-time editing of shared documents and seamless downloads/uploads of work files.
Gaming: Live gaming and streaming support for uninterrupted entertainment.
E-Commerce: Browse and shop online, schedule deliveries, and make reservations—all from 35,000 feet in the air.
Multiple devices: Users can connect several devices simultaneously, under one profile.
In-flight United app support: Download the United app while inflight for real-time updates and live assistance through the “Agent on Demand” feature.

In addition to personal device use, passengers will have access to the Starlink service via nearly 100,000 seatback screens across United’s fleet. The airline’s new signature interiors feature state-of-the-art entertainment systems, including 16-inch HD touch screens in United Polaris® business class, 13-inch screens in First Class, and 10-inch screens in Economy. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity, power outlets at every seat, larger overhead bins, and modern LED lighting.

Airlines

US DOT Approves Merger: Alaska Airlines & Hawaiian Airlines Finalize Deal

In a significant development for the aviation industry, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an order granting an exemption for the transfer of international route authorities in the merger of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

The merger, which is expected to be completed in the coming days, represents a major consolidation in the airline sector. Under the terms of the exemption, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are required to adhere to several key public-interest protections.

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These stipulations are aimed at preserving service quality and consumer benefits as the merger progresses. Specifically, the airlines must protect the value of rewards, maintain existing service levels on crucial Hawaiian routes to the continental U.S. and inter-island routes, and support rural services.

Additionally, they are required to ensure competitive access at the Honolulu hub airport, offer fee-free family seating, provide alternative compensation for controllable disruptions, and lower costs for military families.

This proactive approach by the DOT marks a new phase in the Department’s merger review process. For the first time, airlines are required to agree to binding, enforceable public-interest protections as a condition for closing their merger.

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This move highlights the DOT’s commitment to safeguarding public interests and ensuring that mergers do not undermine service quality or competition. As part of the merger agreement, Alaska Airlines will assume approximately $900 million in Hawaiian Airlines’ debt.

Despite this substantial financial responsibility, Alaska plans to retain Hawaiian as a separate brand, which will negate the need for repainting aircraft. To secure approval from the DOT, the airlines agreed to maintain current service levels on key routes where competition is limited.

The exemption granted by the DOT allows Alaska and Hawaiian to finalize their merger while remaining separate and independently operated until the Department completes its review of the transfer application. If the transfer is approved, the public-interest protections will remain in effect for six years.