United Airlines has completed the installation of the Starlink satellite connectivity system on its first Embraer E175 jet.
The aircraft, registration N127SY, underwent the preparation and installation process of the equipment from SpaceX at its Nashville facility.
The US carrier celebrated the simplicity of equipping the aircraft with the new system, which is about 10 times faster than other competitors.
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According to United, it takes just 8 hours to install Starlink, including antenna, cockpit device and equipment in the main cabin.
The plan is for more than 40 regional jets to receive Starlink per month starting in May, reaching more than 300 jets by the end of the year – the airline intends to offer the connectivity system on its entire fleet in the near future.
“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,” said United’s VP of Digital Technology Grant Milstead. “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.”
In addition to the speedy installation, Starlink also weighs significantly less than its competitors. It weighs just 85 pounds (39 kg) compared to the 300 pounds (136 kg) of its competitors, and there are no moving parts, making it easier to maintain.
The free Wi-Fi service will also offer speeds of up to 250 megabits per second (Mbps), 50 times faster than what is currently available and with more consistent coverage as it benefits from the largest network of satellites of its kind in the world.
