United fits Starlink to E175, touts ease of install and high speeds

Moving quickly to fit its entire fleet with SpaceX’s Starlink Ku-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite-supported inflight connectivity, United confirms it has installed Starlink on its first Embraer E175 and expects to equip 40-plus regional aircraft each month beginning in May through the end of this year.

In a video shared on YouTube, the US major shows technicians installing a Starlink phased array antenna atop the E175 and then testing the speeds (clocking nearly 250 Mbps on an admittedly empty aircraft). United will offer Starlink free-of-charge to UnitedPlus frequent flyer members.

The average Starlink install time, says United, “is about eight hours excluding any de-installation of existing equipment, testing or aircraft modification, approximately 10 times faster than installing non-Starlink equipment.”

Starlink replaces the aged Intelsat-managed (Gogo-installed) air-to-ground (ATG)-based IFC solution on United’s E175s as well as on its CRJs (both the CRJ700s and CRJ550s).

“United is taking each plane out of service for just four days to de-install existing equipment, install Starlink, run tests and close-up the aircraft parts opened during the install, versus an average 10+ days for other inflight providers,” the carrier explains, noting that the Starlink kit weighs just 85 pounds.

“Streamlined equipment means a simpler install,” it continues. “Once an aircraft is taken out of service for the install, the existing Wi-Fi is uninstalled. Then the Starlink equipment is installed, including an internal reinforcement structure, external antenna and main cabin wireless access points and power supply. Finally, the team runs system checks before and after closing the interior.”

The carrier is telling passengers to expect Wi-Fi speeds of up to 250 Mbps “which is 50 times faster” than current regional aircraft speeds.

Elsewhere, United’s partner in the Star Alliance, Air Canada has fitted Intelsat’s hybrid multi-orbit, electronically steered antenna (ESA)-based IFC solution to a cluster of regional jets, as supported by Intelsat’s Ku-band geostationary (GEO) satellites and the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO network, for which Intelsat is a distribution partner. Like United and indeed a growing list of other carriers, Air Canada is tying free Wi-Fi to membership in its loyalty program.

“Our ability to roll-out this innovative service with unprecedented speed and scale is a direct result of the advanced equipment, technology and team of experts at United,” says United VP of digital technology Grant Milstead in a statement.

“Starlink has been a terrific partner — our combined spirit of innovation and collaboration will enable us to hit our goal of more than 300 regional aircraft installations before the end of this year.”

Related Articles:

• United accelerates Starlink equipage with E175 first in line
• Delta taps Hughes multi-network IFC for select A350s, A321neos
• Eutelsat touts LEO aero backlog, addresses Starlink factor
• Eutelsat touts LEO aero backlog, addresses Starlink factor
• Q&A with Norman Haughton as Air Canada preps to offer free Wi-Fi

Featured image credited to United Airlines

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