United Airlines Outfits 300 Regional Jets with High-Speed Starlink Wi-Fi

In a significant bid to capture the "connected traveler" market, United Airlines announced this morning that it has successfully equipped more than 300 of its regional aircraft with Starlink Wi-Fi.

The rollout, which focuses heavily on the Embraer E-175 fleet, brings high-speed, low-latency internet to roughly 1,200 daily flights. This technological leap effectively eliminates the "connectivity gap" between mainline and regional service, a move that industry analysts say will put immense pressure on competitors to upgrade their own short-haul infrastructure.

The partnership with SpaceX marks the first time a major U.S. carrier has utilized satellite technology to provide "gate-to-gate" connectivity that matches the speeds found in homes or offices.

For the business traveler, this means the ability to host video calls and stream large files even on 90-minute hops between secondary cities. United CEO Scott Kirby described the move as a "fundamental shift" in the passenger experience, emphasizing that high-quality internet is no longer an amenity but a "basic expectation" for the modern flyer.

As of this week, the airline is reporting a 98% reliability rate for the new system, even during peak transcontinental transits. The move is part of a broader "United Next" strategy to modernize every aspect of the flying experience, from seat-back screens to overhead bin capacity.

For those booking regional flights this spring, the message is that the "Wi-Fi dead zone" of smaller jets is officially a thing of the past.