United Airlines Flights Get Major Upgrade as Starlink Inflight WiFi Lands on Boeing 777

United Airlines just took a major step in the race for better internet on flights. The carrier has officially completed the first Starlink inflight WiFi installation on a Boeing 777-200ER, illustrating a turning point in new technology for long-haul United Airlines flights worldwide.

CEO Scott Kirby confirmed the news on Instagram on June 8, 2026. Boeing 777-200ER tail number N37018 finished its Starlink prototype installation at Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aircraft, which is touted as having a wide body, is currently undergoing certification flight testing and is expected to be completed by the end of June.

First Batch of United Airlines Flights to Feature Starlink Inflight WiFi

The aircraft is the first of 22 Boeing 777-200ER jets targeted for conversion in the initial rollout phase. Furthermore, United specifically selected this variant to validate the new technology before expanding it across its widebody fleet.

General Electric GE90 engines power all 22 aircraft in this first batch. Even older 777-200 variants with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines are excluded. These aircraft are already being retired, with the first phase of the program set to be phased out in 2025.

Lessons learned from the 777-200ER program will directly inform the upcoming launch of the 777-300ER. This fleet, also powered by GE90s, serves United's most popular international routes and will eventually utilize Starlink. A new technology that passengers are eager for.

Internet on Flights: How United Stacks Up Against Rivals

United Airlines is clearly ahead of the pack on inflight connectivity with this new technology push.

American Airlines won't begin its Starlink rollout until Q1 2027. And only on narrow-body jets, with no widebody announcement yet. Besides, Delta Air Lines chose Amazon's satellite system after negotiations with Starlink collapsed, with deployment not starting until 2028. JetBlue is also going the Amazon route, launching next year as a global launch customer for its low-Earth orbit network.

Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines are the only carriers already operating a full-fleet Starlink, offering free internet on flights to T-Mobile customers. But their networks are considerably smaller than United's.

United's New Technology Rollout by the Numbers

United Airlines is targeting 2 Starlink inflight WiFi installations per week once the program reaches full speed. With around 127 widebody jets in line for the upgrade, the full rollout across United Airlines flights would take roughly 63 weeks.

The carrier also has 140 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order. Whether these aircraft will arrive with in-flight internet capability already installed from the factory or require additional installation remains unclear.

What is clear is the ambition. And this new technology will be implemented on every single one of these aircraft. Let's take a look and analyze the next developments in this exciting new technology.