① United Airlines announced that SpaceX's Starlink (Starlink) will provide satellite internet service to United Airlines' aircraft; ② United Airlines said its customers will soon be able to enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air as on the ground. ”
AFP, September 14 (Editor: Zhao Hao) On Wednesday (September 13) local time, United Airlines (United Airlines, Inc.) announced on its official website that it has signed an agreement with SpaceX, and SpaceX's Starlink (Starlink) will provide satellite internet service to United Airlines' aircraft.
According to the press release, United Airlines expects all of its aircraft — more than 1,000 — to be equipped with Starlink services within the next few years. Testing will begin in early 2025, and it is expected that the first passenger flights will be carried out later that year.
United Airlines said its customers will soon be able to enjoy the same high-speed, low-latency internet service in the air as on the ground. “This new gate-to-gate (from boarding to landing) connection will unlock a game-changing experience in the air.”
United Airlines also specifically mentioned that “the aircraft will provide free Starlink WiFi service.” CEO Scott Kirby wrote, “In the near future, you can do whatever you can do on the ground on an American United plane at an altitude of 35,000 feet, and almost anywhere in the world.”
Source: United Airlines' official website
In-flight WiFi, which used to be a rare service, is now standard on most flights in the US, and almost every airline offers a different fee. According to the Air Passenger Experience Association, nearly 20% of American travelers will connect to in-flight WiFi.
Some airline executives claim that Starlink will be superior to existing in-flight WiFi services. Aeronautical analyst and Paxex.aero website editor Seth Miller said, “As on the ground, the demand for bandwidth in the air is not slowing down.”
Miller said he experienced Starlink WiFi on a flight to Hawaii. “Starlink can provide services to airlines with lower latency than previous generation satellites, further improving the passenger connectivity experience.”
According to SpaceX, there are currently around 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. According to United Airlines, the service can provide global internet access, “including the ocean, the polar regions, and even remote areas where traditional mobile phones and WiFi signals were previously unable to reach.”
SpaceX initially targeted online consumers, but has now expanded to other markets, including aviation.