United Airlines has announced that it will accelerate its plan to equip its planes with SpaceX's Starlink Wi-Fi, with the first commercial flights now expected to take off in spring 2025. This marks a significant shift from the airline's initial timeline, which had testing starting in the spring and the first equipped flights coming later in the year.

The airline plans to begin testing the Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi "next month," followed by the first commercial flight on an Embraer E-175 aircraft, a narrow-body aircraft for regional flights that can fit up to 88 passengers. United aims to outfit its entire two-cabin regional fleet by the end of 2025 and have its first mainline Starlink-enabled plane in the air before the end of this year. Ultimately, the airline expects to have its entire fleet of nearly 1,000 planes outfitted with Starlink Wi-Fi.

United currently uses four different Wi-Fi providers, including Intelsat (formerly Gogo), Panasonic Wi-Fi, and Viasat Wi-Fi. However, the airline is looking to replace these providers with SpaceX's Starlink technology, which boasts download speeds of 40–220Mbps and upload speeds of 8–25Mbps per terminal. This will enable passengers to enjoy fast and reliable in-flight Wi-Fi, supporting activities such as streaming, gaming, and videoconferencing.

United's decision to adopt Starlink Wi-Fi is significant, as it becomes the first major domestic carrier to do so. While international carriers have announced similar plans, United is leading the charge in the US market. The airline's move is also driven by the growing expectation among passengers for fast and free connectivity, even at 30,000 feet.

Mobile device owners are increasingly accustomed to uninterrupted video streaming and other conveniences, and airlines are under pressure to provide similar experiences in-flight. United's adoption of Starlink Wi-Fi is a response to this demand, and the airline is promising to offer free Wi-Fi to its MileagePlus loyalty customers.

"We have a lot planned for our MileagePlus members this year and adding Starlink to as many planes as we can – as quickly as we can – is at the center of it all," said Richard Nunn, CEO of United MileagePlus, in a statement. "It's not only going to revolutionize the experience of flying United, but it's also going to unlock tons of new partnerships and benefits for our members that otherwise wouldn't be possible."

The implications of United's move are far-reaching, as it sets a new standard for in-flight Wi-Fi and raises the bar for passenger experience. As the airline industry continues to evolve, the adoption of advanced technologies like Starlink Wi-Fi will play a critical role in shaping the future of air travel.

With United leading the charge, it will be interesting to see how other airlines respond to the challenge. One thing is certain, however – the era of slow and unreliable in-flight Wi-Fi is coming to an end, and passengers will soon be able to enjoy fast, free, and uninterrupted connectivity at 30,000 feet.