FAA Approves United Airlines for Starlink

First commercial flights slated for May

Meg Godlewski

Monday, March 31, 2025 at 01:10 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: Steve Spears

Key Takeaways:

United Airlines has received FAA approval (Supplemental Type Certificate) to operate Starlink-equipped Embraer 175 aircraft, with the first customer flights scheduled to begin in May.
The airline plans to complete installations on its entire two-cabin regional fleet (over 300 planes) by the end of the year, touting Starlink's significantly faster internet speeds (50 times faster) and operational benefits like easier installation and lighter weight.
Starlink connectivity will be offered free of charge to all MileagePlus customers, enhancing inflight entertainment and connectivity.

See a mistake? Contact us.

United Airlines has obtained approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate Starlink-equipped aircraft. The legacy air carrier made the announcement Monday, adding that the first customer flights will begin in May of this year, which is less than eight months since the deal was first announced.

According to United, the FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Embraer 175 and the airline expects the first commercial flight with Starlink will be a United Express Embraer 175.