Key Points
- SpaceX secured a deal to install Starlink on over 1,000 United Airlines planes.
- SpaceX’s Starlink now has contracts for 2,500 aircraft.
- Starlink serves 3 million customers in 100 countries with a network of 6,400 satellites.
- SpaceX has reduced antenna installation time to under a day compared to Delta’s three-day retrofits.
SpaceX has significantly boosted its in-flight Wi-Fi business by nearly doubling its Starlink contracts after securing a major deal with United Airlines. The agreement will see Starlink installed on more than 1,000 of United’s aircraft, replacing the airline’s current quartet of Wi-Fi providers—Viasat, Panasonic, Thales, and Gogo.
During the World Space Business Week conference in Paris, Nick Galano, SpaceX’s director of Starlink aviation sales and partnerships, shared the news. He stated that SpaceX has contracts to install Starlink on around 2,500 aircraft, marking substantial growth for the satellite internet service since its inception. United’s agreement is the largest in-flight connectivity (IFC) deal for SpaceX, and the airline has promised passengers free Wi-Fi.
Since its 2020 debut, Starlink has expanded beyond consumer internet services into enterprise markets, including aviation and maritime. It currently serves over 3 million customers across 100 countries through a network of about 6,400 satellites. According to Galano, Starlink’s satellite constellation offers over 300 terabits per second, more than 100 times the capacity of legacy systems. SpaceX aims to increase this capacity by launching new satellites roughly every three days.
In addition to expanding its network, SpaceX is working to streamline the installation process for Starlink antennas on aircraft. Retrofitting—upgrading or replacing an aircraft’s satellite communications system—can take several days, which causes delays for airlines. SpaceX has proven it can install Starlink in less than a day on fleets like Hawaiian Airlines and JSX, significantly reducing downtime.
By comparison, Delta Air Lines, which relies on Viasat, reports that its IFC retrofits take an average of three days, as they involve removing old systems before installing new ones. Delta, which also offers free Wi-Fi to its members, noted that this perk has helped attract 3 million new SkyMiles loyalty members since early 2023.
