United Airlines Resolves Starlink Wi-Fi Interference Issue on Embraer Jets, Service to Resume

Friday, Jul 18, 2025 11:54 am ET1min read
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United Airlines has resolved the technical glitch that caused a temporary shutdown of its in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi service on some Embraer E175 jets. The issue was traced to static interference between the Starlink dish antenna and the antenna used for radio communications with air traffic control. The airline has repositioned the satellite equipment to resolve the issue and plans to complete its fleet-wide upgrade with Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.

United Airlines has resolved the technical glitch that led to the temporary shutdown of its in-flight Starlink Wi-Fi service on some Embraer E175 jets. The issue, which was first reported in early June, was traced to static interference between the Starlink dish antenna and the antenna used for radio communications with air traffic control. The airline has repositioned the satellite equipment to resolve the issue and plans to complete its fleet-wide upgrade with Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.

On Thursday, United's chief operations officer Toby Enqvist announced that the problem has "pretty much been resolved" during the company's second-quarter earnings call. Enqvist also stated that United does not expect to encounter similar delays on its larger planes, as the antennas used by Starlink and the flight deck are too close together on the smaller regional jets that were first to get the new service. He added that the issue was specific to the smaller aircraft and that the larger planes will not face the same problem [1].

United has already equipped 60 of its planes with the new Starlink service. This means that the chances of passengers enjoying fast and free connectivity on United Express regional flights are increasing. The Starlink service has been praised for its high-quality performance, allowing passengers to stream sports games, watch YouTube videos, and work simultaneously without any issues [1].

The resolution of this technical glitch is a significant step forward for United Airlines, which had accelerated the timeline for rolling out the high-tech internet service. The airline's commitment to providing fast and free inflight Wi-Fi to its passengers is a strategic move to enhance the overall passenger experience. As United continues to expand its Starlink service to its entire fleet, it is poised to offer a competitive advantage in the aviation industry.

References:
[1] https://thepointsguy.com/news/united-airlines-starlink-wifi-installation/
[2] https://avitrader.com/2025/07/15/textron-adds-starlink-wi-fi-to-citation-sovereign-jets/

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