United Airlines Partners with Apple TV+ for Free In-Flight Entertainment

United Airlines has partnered with Apple TV+ to offer free award-winning series on over 130,000 seatback screens and the United mobile app. The partnership includes popular shows like "Severance," "Ted Lasso," and "Silo," with additional content added monthly. The airline plans to expand to over 300,000 screens as part of its United Next growth plan, featuring 27-inch, 4K OLED Bluetooth-enabled displays.

United Airlines has recently partnered with Apple TV+ to offer free access to award-winning series on over 130,000 seatback screens and the United mobile app. The collaboration, announced on July 2, 2025, includes popular shows such as "Severance," "Ted Lasso," and "Silo," with additional content added monthly. This initiative is part of United's ongoing "United Next" growth plan, which aims to install seatback screens on every seat across the fleet, featuring 27-inch, 4K OLED Bluetooth-enabled displays [1].

The Apple TV+ content will be available on both domestic and international flights, providing passengers with a dedicated channel for high-quality entertainment. United Airlines expects to have more than 300,000 screens in service as it takes delivery of new aircraft and retrofits existing cabins. The airline has stated that this partnership is intended to raise the standard for in-flight entertainment and provide passengers with more high-quality content options [1].

The Apple TV+ partnership builds on United's existing collaboration with Apple, which has already introduced several passenger-focused initiatives. Notably, United was the first US carrier to offer live activities for the iPhone, allowing travelers to receive real-time, personalized updates directly on their lock screen or dynamic island. The airline has also integrated Apple's Share Item Location feature for AirTag and other Find My-enabled accessories, providing customers with secure location sharing for their devices [1].

Delta Air Lines is also expanding its in-flight entertainment library through a new partnership with Crunchyroll. Later this year, Delta passengers will be able to watch a selection of anime titles on the airline's more than 169,000 seatback screens and through the Delta Sync WiFi platform for SkyMiles members [2]. This move underscores the growing trend of airlines leveraging streaming content to enhance the on-board experience, particularly as high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi remains inconsistent on many routes.

The availability of Apple TV+ shows on United Airlines flights effectively gives passengers a free trial experience during their journey. Analysts note that such collaborations benefit both parties, with airlines marketing enhanced passenger comfort and streaming services gaining a captive audience for their content. However, it is important to note that the full Apple TV+ content library is not available, and only the first seasons of selected shows are currently offered [2].

United Airlines has stated that the Apple TV+ channel will receive monthly updates, with additional titles and possibly new genres being introduced over time. The airline estimates that more than 250 episodes, films, and specials will be made available through the arrangement [2].

References:
[1] https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-apple-tv-partnership/
[2] https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/united-airlines-flights-offer-apple-tv-hits-like-severance-for-free-but-theres-a-catch/amp_articleshow/123262690.cms