United Airlines has resolved an interference issue with its in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi service. This problem, traced to static interference, temporarily grounded the service on some of its aircraft. The disruption affected only the Embraer E175 planes, where the proximity of Starlink’s antenna to another crucial antenna caused interference.
Toby Enqvist, United Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer, elucidated the problem further. “The two antennas were too close together. So they worked around that,” he said. The solution involved repositioning the satellite equipment. This adjustment eradicated the interference and restored connectivity.
Fortunately, this issue doesn’t affect United’s entire fleet. Larger aircraft provide enough space to safely separate the Starlink dishes from other sensitive communication antennas. Thus, the rest of the fleet remains unaffected by this specific interference problem.
The rollout of SpaceX’s satellite internet service on United Airlines’ aircraft continues. Sixty jets now feature Starlink access, delivering remarkably high download speeds up to 100Mbps. Feedback from May’s trial proved positive, marking a milestone in enhancing in-flight connectivity.
Members of United Airlines’ MileagePlus frequent flyer program currently enjoy complimentary access to Starlink Wi-Fi. However, this free service requires watching a few advertisements. It remains unclear when the entire fleet will undergo the complete Starlink upgrade. Passengers should verify availability for their specific flights during this process.
