United Airlines is rapidly deploying Elon Musk's Starlink, giving it a 'head start' over other airlines: Analyst Brian Sozzi · Executive Editor Mon, October 12, 2026 at 4:23 PM EDT 2 min read UAL -2.81% DAL -2.51% AMZN -1.11% Explore stocks on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
United Airlines (UAL) may be flying under rival Delta's (DAL) radar when it comes to the pace at which it's rolling out high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi aboard its airplanes.
United has equipped just under 600 of its aircraft with Starlink, Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu wrote in a note on Monday after a meeting with the airline's vice president of technology. That breaks down into 300 regional jets and 300 mainline aircraft.
By year end, United Airlines expects 50% of its mainline fleet to be equipped with Starlink. The number is expected to soar to 100% of the fleet by the end of 2027.
"This represents a significant head start vs. US peers with Southwest next-gen WiFi installations starting in summer 2026 (Starlink), American Airlines in Q1 2027 (Starlink), and Delta in 2028 (Amazon Leo)," Kahyaoglu noted.
Access to high-speed Wi-Fi on planes has never been hotter than it is right now, as Elon Musk's Starlink goes toe-to-toe with Amazon (AMZN) Leo. Sides have already formed, with Delta one of the lone major airlines to sign up for a Leo rollout.
It has put the company at odds with Musk in the public's eye.
Musk recently lashed out on the social media platform X, claiming that Delta would lose substantial market share and predicting that CEO Ed Bastian would eventually lose his job over the decision. Bastian reportedly had criticized Musk in private, stoking chatter about why Delta would not be installing Starlink.
Bastian sought to lower the tensions last week on his earnings release. In an interview, he complimented Starlink's service and said he drove a Tesla (TSLA).
"US customers are prioritizing a premium travel experience rather than a commoditized product, w/ UAL identifying next-gen WiFi in addition to the mobile app seat-back entertainment & new interiors as tools to attract the incremental premium customer," Kahyaoglu added.
Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor, host of the Sozzi Unleashed morning show, the 'Power Players With Brian Sozzi' podcast and a member of Yahoo Finance's editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.
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