United Airlines says SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet now reaches more than half of its daily flights — but the airline’s own equipment tracker shows the rollout has barely touched its long-haul fleet, with five Boeing 777s and two Boeing 787s fitted out of 196 intercontinental aircraft listed. The November 12 announcement, reported by Air Data News, is a milestone in an installation programme due to finish by the end of 2027.
Key facts
- Starlink covers more than 50% of United’s daily flights as of the November 12 announcement, per the outlet’s report.
- The carrier expects that to reach nearly 64% by the end of 2026, with the rest of the covered fleet fitted by the end of 2027.
- United’s Starlink tracker, updated November 9, listed 689 aircraft equipped — about 45% of the fleet inside the programme.
- Those 689 aircraft accounted for an estimated 54% of daily flights.
- Only five 777s and two 787s are fitted, from a combined 196 intercontinental aircraft on the tracker.
Why it matters
The two headline numbers measure different things. Air Data News attributes the gap between 45% of aircraft and 54% of flights to how often each type flies: regional jets and narrowbodies generally operate more sectors per day than widebodies, so United can cover more departures before finishing most of its aeroplanes.
The practical result, the report notes, is that passengers on United’s long-haul network remain far less likely to find Starlink than those on regional or many domestic routes.
Where the installations stand
Regional and single-aisle fleets
The regional rollout is done. All 100 Bombardier CRJ-550s and all 252 Embraer E175s on the tracker have Starlink installed — 352 aircraft between them.
Among larger single-aisle jets, availability is uneven. The Airbus A321 family leads at 88%, the Boeing 737 fleet is 62% complete and the 737 MAX sits at 19%. The A319 and A320 fleets are listed as “Coming soon.”
Widebodies and the older Boeings
The contrast is sharpest on intercontinental types. Beyond the seven fitted 777s and 787s, the tracker shows the 53-aircraft Boeing 767 fleet has not entered the installation phase, and the same goes for United’s 61 Boeing 757s, used on both domestic and transatlantic routes. Both are also marked “Coming soon.”
The remaining work will therefore lean heavily on widebodies, the outlet writes, particularly the 777 and 787 fleets that together account for almost 200 aircraft.
What it costs
Unlike the session passes that have long defined paid inflight Wi-Fi, United is not selling Starlink as an add-on. Air Data News describes access as complimentary for members of the MileagePlus loyalty programme, and reports no charge for non-members. The report lists no per-flight fee, no monthly plan and no speed-based tiers — so there is no Starlink price for United passengers to compare, only a sign-in requirement for the free tier.
What finishing the programme would change
The unfinished part of the rollout is the part that covers open ocean. Starlink runs on a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites that reaches oceanic and remote regions where conventional air-to-ground networks do not work — precisely the routes flown by the widebodies United has yet to fit.
On board, the capabilities United attaches to the service are the airline’s own claims as relayed by Air Data News: streaming video, general browsing and several connected devices at once, plus live sports and integration with personal Spotify accounts on compatible seatback screens.
What is not confirmed
Every figure above traces to a single outlet’s reading of United’s tracker on November 9. Starlink News has not independently audited that tracker, and the report reproduces no direct quote from United or SpaceX, so the installation counts and the 64% year-end target rest on the carrier’s own disclosure rather than a verified filing.
United is one of several carriers moving to satellite Wi-Fi. Starlink News has reported that Slate Aviation plans Starlink across its full fleet from December and that Cebu Pacific intends to add Starlink Wi-Fi from 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did United first announce its Starlink deal?
United announced the SpaceX partnership in September 2024, according to Air Data News.
Has United published Starlink’s in-flight speeds?
Not in this announcement. Air Data News’s report carries no speed or bandwidth figure for the service, so there is no published throughput number to compare against other inflight Wi-Fi systems.
How far ahead can passengers check whether their flight has Starlink?
Up to three days before departure. Air Data News says United’s online tracker shows Starlink availability for a scheduled flight within that window.
![Using Your Own Router with Starlink: Bypass Mode [2026]](https://starlink-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/using-your-own-router-with-starlink-bypass-mode-20-f6c09f95-120x86.png)
Comments 1