United Airlines’ smallest aircraft will soon not be the only jet with brand new, fast and free Starlink Wi-Fi.
For months, the Chicago-based airline has installed high caliber connectivity on its United Express regional jet fleet.
But in the coming weeks, customers will also start seeing Starlink services on their larger aircraft.
United just received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to deploy satellite internet services on its Boeing 737-800 fleet, the airline said Friday.
Operators are expected to launch their Starlink service for the first time from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on October 15.
That will just be the beginning.
Manchester United’s plan requires that its entire fleet be equipped with new internet services – it will not require access to all of its MileagePlus members.
“Customers love the Starlink experience on our regional aircraft, and our first Mainline aircraft with Starlink will deliver an excellent onboard experience for more people,” Grant Milstead, vice president of digital technology at the operator, said in a statement.
Related: How to Get Maximum Value from United MileagePlus Plan
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Combined express equipment completed
There is also good news about Manchester United’s star-stripe promotion on smaller jets. The airline said on Friday that it has completed the technology of more than half of the regional fleet.
This means that if you are flying in a hub of an airline or on a United Express plane, you may be on a Starlink-equipped aircraft, which has a better chance than you have.
The update came four months after the carrier’s first debut at Embraer 175 at the O’Hare International Airport (ORD) home base in Chicago, and I found it a huge upgrade to existing Wi-Fi services that allowed me to do the job of a live baseball game on another device.
The airline said earlier this year that it hopes to complete the Starlink installation on its two-Carbin regional fleet by the end of 2025.
Read more: United Airlines will return to Greenland for the second summer in 2026
Bottom line
Manchester United’s Starlink was launched because Wi-Fi quickly became the norm in the U.S. aviation industry.
United, Delta Air, American Airlines, Southwest, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines all deploy or announce free Wi-Fi plans in most (or all) fleets.
JetBlue has been offering free browsing to its flyers for years and has recently announced a major upgrade to its service.
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