United Schedules First Starlink-Equipped Mainline Flight for Take Off

Rhea-AI Summary

United (NYSE:UAL) will operate the first Starlink-equipped mainline flight on Oct 15, 2025 when flight 2940 departs Newark/New York to Houston at 8:00 a.m. ET. United plans to install Starlink on up to 15 737-800s per month, fit two antennas per 737-800, and install nearly 2,940 antennas across its fleet. More than half of United's regional jets already have Starlink, and an additional aircraft type is expected to be certified by year-end. Starlink access is free for MileagePlus members; customers receive notification when a flight is equipped.

Positive

• First major U.S. mainline Starlink flight on Oct 15, 2025
• Installation pace: up to 15 737-800s per month
• More than half of regional fleet already equipped
• Planned fleet scope: nearly 2,940 antennas
• 90% initial customer approval on regional Starlink flights
• Seatback rollout: 300,000+ screens across fleet

Negative

• Initial mainline rollout limited to 737-800 aircraft
• Starlink access is free only for MileagePlus members
• Additional aircraft types certified only by year-end

Insights

Aviation customer-experience analyst

United begins Starlink on mainline 737-800s, promising high-speed onboard streaming and a phased fleet rollout.

United will operate the first Starlink-equipped mainline Boeing 737-800 departing Newark at 8:00 a.m. ET as disclosed on October 14, 2025, and plans installations of up to 15 737-800s per month while fitting nearly 2,940 antennas across the fleet. The service supports seatback screens and personal devices and is free for MileagePlus members; the airline already has Starlink on more than half of its regional jets and reports a 90% customer appreciation score on regional flights.

The business mechanism is straightforward: improved in-flight connectivity aims to raise perceived product value and differentiate the onboard experience by enabling live streaming, low-latency collaboration, and multi-device use. Execution risk centers on installation pace, certification of an additional aircraft type by year-end, and maintaining consistent performance at scale; those items determine whether satisfied early customers translate into broader loyalty gains. Monitor the monthly installation cadence (up to 15 737-800s/month), the additional aircraft-type certification by the end of the year, and operational reliability metrics from mainline flights over the next 3–6 months.

United flight 2940 is set to depart Newark/New York to Houston at 8:00 a.m. ET on a Boeing 737-800

Starlink installations complete on more than half of United regional jets

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United will make history tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET when United flight 2940 takes off from Newark/New York to Houston, marking the first time a major U.S. airline has offered Starlink Wi-Fi on a mainline flight with connectivity across both personal devices and inflight entertainment screens. The airline expects to install Starlink on up to 15 mainline 737-800 planes each month; more than half of United's regional fleet already offers Starlink. By the end of the year, the airline expects to have an additional aircraft type certified to offer Starlink.

More than 170 customers onboard the Boeing 737-800 will enjoy the same kind of high-speed, low-latency internet experience they have at home, unlocking experiences like live TV and streaming services, shopping, gaming and more. On October 15, the Starlink-equipped mainline aircraft is also expected to fly from Houston (IAH) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on flight 365 and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Houston (IAH) on flight 445 where it will end the day in Houston.

United will install two Starlink antennas on each 737-800 aircraft. The airline is set to install nearly 2,940 antennas across its entire fleet – the flight number for the first customer flight.

Starlink Wi-Fi is free for United MileagePlus^® members, and customers will receive a notification before their flight if it's equipped with Starlink.  

"We're committed to raising the bar when it comes to the onboard experience, and with Starlink, we're changing how people fly," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "Whether it's catching a live game, streaming an award show or working, United customers won't miss a beat when they're onboard a Starlink-equipped flight."

United's Starlink is breaking the Wi-Fi barrier, and the new service unlocks a new way to travel with experiences like:

• Live streaming: Whether you catch a live sports event, watch a favorite movie or show and more, passengers can access their personal streaming services without buffering, lag or need to download in advance.
• Real-time work collaboration: Download/upload files, share and edit documents, and stay in sync with your team in real-time.
• Gaming at 30,000 feet: Pick up where you left off and play live games and follow along on live gaming streaming services.
• Seamless shopping: Stay connected online, schedule grocery delivery and make restaurant and travel reservations all from the comfort of your seat.
• Connect multiple devices at once: Customers will be able to access Starlink on all devices at once, like their seatback screen, phone, tablet, computer and more.

United's first Starlink-equipped regional flight took place on a regional jet in May 2025, and the airline now has Starlink installed on more than half of the aircraft in its regional fleet. Initial customer scores on those flights have been noteworthy with 90% of customers appreciating the ability to stream onboard with Starlink's high-speed, easy-to-use and consistent connection.

The rollout of Starlink across United's fleet aligns with the airline's plans to have 300,000+ seatback screens across its fleet – more than any other U.S. airline – as it takes delivery of hundreds of new airplanes and retrofits existing aircraft. Over the last several years, United has invested billions of dollars in enhancing the customer experience, and by providing more value for customers, the airline aims to earn stronger brand loyalty.

See here for visual assets and visit united.com/starlink for additional information.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

About Starlink

Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. As the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.  Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world's leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world's most advanced broadband internet system.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical performance and current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans, commitments, strategies and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect United's business and market, particularly those identified in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections in United's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, United undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-schedules-first-starlink-equipped-mainline-flight-for-take-off-302582565.html

SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

When is United flight UAL 2940 the first Starlink-equipped mainline flight?

United flight 2940 departs Newark to Houston at 8:00 a.m. ET on Oct 15, 2025 as the first mainline Starlink flight.

How many Starlink antennas will United install across its fleet for UAL?

United plans to install nearly 2,940 antennas across its fleet.

What is United's monthly installation rate for Starlink on 737-800s (UAL)?

United expects to install Starlink on up to 15 737-800 planes per month.

Will all United passengers get free Starlink Wi-Fi on UAL flights?

Starlink Wi-Fi is free for MileagePlus members; other customers will see notifications if a flight is equipped.

How many devices can connect to Starlink on UAL 737-800 flights?

Passengers can connect multiple devices at once, including seatback screens, phones, tablets, and laptops.

Has United already flown Starlink-equipped regional UAL flights?

Yes—United flew its first Starlink regional jet in May 2025 and now has Starlink on more than half of regional aircraft.