United Airlines launches satellite-based Wi-Fi service

United Airlines has introduced on-board satellite-based Wi-Fi Internet connectivity on the first of its international wide-body aircraft, offering customers the ability to stay connected while travelling on long-haul overseas routes.

The aircraft, a B747 fitted with Panasonic Avionics Corporation's Ku-band satellite technology, serves transatlantic and trans-Pacific routes.

United has also installed the technology on two Airbus 319 aircraft serving domestic routes, offering customers faster inflight Internet service than air-to-ground technology (ATG). The company expects to complete installation of satellite-based Wi-Fi on 300 mainline aircraft by the end of this year.

Customers have the choice of two speeds: Standard, priced initially between US$3.99 (R35) and US$14.99 (R132) depending on the duration of flight, and Accelerated, priced initially between US$5.99 (R53) and US$19.99 (R175) and offering faster download speeds than Standard.

The airline will install satellite-based Wi-Fi on its Airbus 319 and 320 aircraft, and on Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft. Customers will be able to use their wireless devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets on board those aircraft to connect with Internet service using the in-flight hotspot.

United is upgrading its fleet with additional on-board improvements:

• Offering one of the world's largest fleet of aircraft with flat-bed seats, with more than 175 aircraft with 180-degree flat beds in premium cabins once the airline completes the installation in the second quarter.
• Expanding extra leg-room Economy Plus seating  
• Revamping the transcontinental fleet of aircraft that fly between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles and San Francisco, offering an improved premium cabin with fully flat beds, Wi-Fi Internet service, and personal on-demand entertainment at every seat.
• Improving inflight entertainment options with streaming video content on the Boeing 747-400 fleet.
• Retrofitting overhead bins on 152 Airbus aircraft, allowing for significantly greater storage of carry-on baggage.