United Rolls Out Starlink Wi-Fi to Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners

United Airlines is expanding its Starlink Wi-Fi rollout to include Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, with the first equipped jet scheduled to enter passenger service on Friday night. This marks a significant milestone in the airline's effort to bring high-speed internet connectivity to all of its widebody aircraft.

The move comes after United's June announcement that more than 400 planes had already been equipped with Starlink, with a goal of nearly 1,000 aircraft by year-end and the full widebody fleet by summer 2027. The 787-8 is a long-haul workhorse on thinner international routes, where older cabin Wi-Fi often falters.

Fleet watchers say United operates about a dozen 787-8s, so Friday night's first jet is just the start of a type rollout rather than a one-off demo. As with other Starlink-equipped aircraft, the service will be free for MileagePlus members.