SpaceX’s Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi service took a significant leap forward last week by securing a major deal with United Airlines. With this new partnership, SpaceX has nearly doubled its number of contracted aircraft, bringing the total to around 2,500 planes. Nick Galano, SpaceX’s director of Starlink aviation sales and partnerships, discussed the milestone at the World Space Business Week conference in Paris.
United’s decision to equip over 1,000 of its planes with Starlink marks SpaceX’s largest in-flight connectivity (IFC) agreement to date. The airline will replace its existing Wi-Fi providers, including Viasat, Panasonic, Thales, and Gogo, as Starlink installations take place over the next few years. Unlike many other carriers, United has announced that it will not charge customers for access to Starlink Wi-Fi.
Since launching its Starlink service in 2020, SpaceX has expanded from consumer-focused offerings into other sectors, including aviation and maritime. The company’s growing network now includes more than 6,400 satellites in orbit, which deliver high-speed internet to over 3 million customers across 100 countries.
Galano emphasized the high capacity of Starlink’s satellite network, stating that its current system provides “over 300 terabits per second” of data, far surpassing traditional systems. SpaceX continues to enhance this capacity, launching new Starlink satellites approximately every three days.
One challenge facing airlines when upgrading satellite communications systems is the lengthy installation process, or retrofitting, which typically takes planes out of service for several days. SpaceX is working to streamline this process, aiming to complete Starlink installations in under a day. Galano pointed to the success of installations on Hawaiian Airlines and JSX’s fleets, which were completed swiftly. In comparison, Delta Air Lines, which partners with Viasat for its in-flight Wi-Fi, requires an average of three days to retrofit each of its 1,200 aircraft, according to Delta’s managing director of in-flight entertainment and connectivity, Glenn Latta.
Delta and United are both working to attract high-end customers by enhancing in-flight experiences. Delta made its Wi-Fi free for members of its frequent flyer program in 2023, a move that has paid off with 3 million new SkyMiles members. United’s latest move to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi could set a new standard for in-flight connectivity as airlines compete to provide better services for their passengers.
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