United Temporarily Suspends Starlink Wi-Fi on Regional Jets Due to Interference
United Airlines’ ambitious plan to provide free satellite connectivity on its regional jets has hit a technical snag. The company has had to suspend Starlink internet service on nearly two dozen Embraer E175 aircraft after pilots reported interference with radio communications.
VHF Antenna Interference with Starlink
According to exclusive information from The Points Guy, aircraft equipped with Starlink Wi-Fi began experiencing radio interference between the VHF antennas used by pilots to communicate with air traffic controllers and the Starlink antennas.
In response, United temporarily disabled the Wi-Fi service across the affected fleet while collaborating with Starlink’s technical team to implement a solution. The airline emphasized that such interference is common during the initial phases of deploying new onboard connectivity technologies.
A United spokesperson confirmed the issue and noted that the service is already installed on approximately two dozen regional aircraft. “United and Starlink are working together to address a small number of reports of static interference during the Wi-Fi system’s operation, which is relatively common with new airborne connectivity providers. We expect the service to be restored soon,” the spokesperson said.
Solution Underway Without Flight Cancellations
The good news is that United and Starlink have already identified a fix for the radio interference and are actively working to implement it across all affected aircraft. The issue has been resolved in about one-third of the impacted planes, which have resumed operations with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi. The remaining jets will be updated progressively during scheduled maintenance, avoiding flight cancellations.
The airline anticipates that the service will be fully restored across all affected aircraft in the coming weeks. However, the temporary suspension will disappoint hundreds of passengers who were eager to try Starlink during their summer flights.
Implementation Plan Remains on Track
United has made it clear that this setback will not derail its modernization plans. In fact, 40 additional Embraer E175s are slated for reconfiguration this month, followed by the installation of Starlink on regional CRJ-550 jets in the coming weeks.
The goal remains unchanged: to offer free satellite Wi-Fi on all dual-class regional aircraft operated by United Express by the end of the year. Accessing the service only requires a MileagePlus account, and passengers can connect their personal devices at no additional cost.
Despite this hiccup, United is confident that the interference issue is just a minor obstacle in its transition toward a more connected and modern in-flight experience for its customers.
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