United FAA-Certified for Starlink Wi‑Fi on 737-800

United’s first mainline Boeing 737-800 is now FAA-certified to carry SpaceX Starlink Wi‑Fi.

United Airlines has secured Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to install Starlink Wi‑Fi on a Boeing 737-800, with the inaugural customer flight scheduled to depart Newark (EWR) on October 15. The certification marks the carrier’s first FAA-cleared mainline installation after a phased regional rollout.

More than half of United’s regional fleet already has Starlink, and the airline says installations are continuing at roughly 50 jets per month. The rollout follows United’s broader agreement with SpaceX to bring faster, low-latency internet to passengers across its network.

MileagePlus members are set to receive complimentary access as the program expands, and early customer feedback has been strong: about 90% of initial users rated the service favorably. United aims to use the certification to scale Starlink beyond regional aircraft into its mainline fleet.

What Starlink Wi‑Fi means for passengers

For travelers, certified Starlink Wi‑Fi promises more consistent streaming, faster browsing, and lower latency compared with many legacy onboard networks. That should especially help longer domestic routes and busy gates where connectivity traditionally drops.

• Boeing 737-800: first mainline type FAA-certified for Starlink Wi‑Fi
• Inaugural customer flight: departs Newark (EWR) on October 15
• Installation pace: ~50 jets per month across United’s fleet
• Passenger reception: ~90% favorable ratings from early users
• Benefit: free access for MileagePlus members as rollout continues

United’s FAA clearance for Starlink on a 737-800 is a notable step toward airline-wide high-speed connectivity; travelers should start seeing the service on more flights in the coming months as installations ramp up.

Sources

• United Airlines announcement (source provided in original brief)