United announced that the FAA has approved its first Starlink-equipped aircraft type and that the first commercial flight is planned for May, less than eight months after the deal was first announced. Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world.

The FAA issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Embraer 175, and the airline expects the first commercial flight to be on board a United Express Embraer 175. United’s rollout of the new technology, said the announcement, will continue to accelerate, with approximately 40 regional jet installations planned monthly and the expectation that the entire two-cabin regional fleet — more than 300 planes — will be completed by the end of the year.

Grant Milstead, United’s vice president of digital technology, said the carrier is working closely with Starlink and the FAA “to finish installations on its regional fleet this year and bring the best inflight experience in the sky to more and more people.”

Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and include “game-changing” inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more, thanks to WiFi speeds up to 250 megabits per second, which is 50 times faster than current regional aircraft speeds, according to the announcement.
Image: United Airlines