United Airlines taps Elon Musk’s Starlink for in-flight internet

(Reuters) -United Airlines said on Friday it has signed a new deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink for in-flight internet services.

Starlink, a unit of SpaceX, has inked deals with multiple airlines to provide in-flight internet services as it seeks to expand its reach beyond consumers and households in rural areas around the world with little to no internet access.

The satellite-based internet services provider has previously signed deals with Hawaiian Airlines and regional carrier JSX.

United expects to have Starlink’s internet connectivity in all its more than 1,000 aircraft over the next several years.

Testing for the service will begin in early 2025, with the first passenger flights anticipated later that year.

The carrier also revealed its plans to keep Starlink’s services on its flights free.