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United Airlines expands Starlink Wi-Fi rollout with first transatlantic widebody flight
๐Ÿ‡ด๐Ÿ‡ฒ Oman /Technology

United Airlines expands Starlink Wi-Fi rollout with first transatlantic widebody flight

From Times of Oman · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • United Airlines is accelerating the rollout of free Starlink Wi-Fi, with its first transatlantic widebody flight departing Newark for London.
  • The airline plans to equip nearly 60 widebody aircraft with Starlink this year and its entire widebody fleet by next summer.
  • United aims to provide reliable, high-speed internet across its fleet, including over oceans and remote areas, enhancing the in-flight experience.

United Airlines is rapidly expanding its offering of free, high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, marking a significant milestone with its first transatlantic widebody customer flight equipped with the technology. Flight 14 departed Newark/New York for London aboard a Boeing 777-200, signaling a new era of connectivity for international travelers.

United is changing what it means to stay connected on an overseas flight

โ€” David KinzelmanUnited's Chief Customer Officer on the impact of Starlink Wi-Fi.

This deployment is part of a larger initiative to outfit nearly 60 United widebody aircraft with Starlink by the end of this year. The airline's ambitious goal is to have its entire widebody fleet equipped with the satellite internet service by next summer. This expansion aims to provide reliable, high-speed internet access across its global network, including previously underserved areas over oceans and remote regions.

Starlink offers the same fast, reliable internet access and connectivity we're all used to at home, delivered in the air at 35,000 feet, flying anywhere around the world.

โ€” David KinzelmanUnited's Chief Customer Officer describing the capabilities of Starlink Wi-Fi.

David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer, highlighted the transformative potential of Starlink, stating, "Starlink offers the same fast, reliable internet access and connectivity we're all used to at home, delivered in the air at 35,000 feet, flying anywhere around the world." He added that the technology "has the potential to transform how we think about the in-flight experience for both our customers and our employees."

This technology has the potential to transform how we think about the in-flight experience for both our customers and our employees

โ€” David KinzelmanUnited's Chief Customer Officer on the broader implications of Starlink for the airline.

Since launching Starlink Wi-Fi last spring, United has provided service on over 311,000 flights, powering 9.9 million devices. The airline reports that Wi-Fi customer satisfaction scores on these flights have nearly doubled. United plans to further enhance its in-flight entertainment systems by doubling its seatback screens across its fleet, with Starlink integration playing a key role in delivering a more connected and personalized onboard experience.

Our ability to deploy Starlink Wi-Fi across our fleet at this speed and scale is a testament to the expertise of our team and the strength of our collaboration with Starlink

โ€” Ankit GuptaUnited's Chief Air Operations Officer on the successful implementation of Starlink.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of Oman. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.