A United Airlines Boeing 737-MAX 8 airplane takes off from San Diego International Airport en route to New York on August 24, 2024 in San Diego, California.
Kevin Carter | Getty Images
united airlines said Friday that it plans to offer SpaceX's Starlink onboard Wi-Fi for free on its hundreds of passenger aircraft, the largest inflight internet deal yet for the SpaceX business.
The partnership comes at a time when airlines have been investing in faster Wi-Fi on board.
Delta Air Lines announced in early 2023 that inflight internet would be free for members of its SkyMiles loyalty program. Hawaiian Airlineswhich has an agreement with Starlink, also offers free Wi-Fi on board. JetBlue Airlines It has been offering free WiFi for years.
SpaceX also previously reached a deal with semi-private carrier JSX.
SpaceX has steadily expanded its Starlink network and product offering since its debut in 2020. There are currently about 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit connecting more than 3 million customers in 100 countries, according to the company. SpaceX initially focused on consumer customers but has expanded into other markets, including aviation.
