United is outfitting approximately 30 aircraft each month with satellite Wi-Fi technology and expects to have nearly 200 aircraft equipped with the service by the end of 2013. The airline currently offers satellite Wi-Fi on 13 Boeing 747 aircraft, which fly international routes to and from San Francisco - the country's premier trans-Pacific hub - as well as routes to and from Los Angeles.
United also offers satellite Wi-Fi on more than half of its combined fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, which operate in North America markets, and air-to-ground Internet connectivity on its entire fleet of Boeing 757 transcontinental p.s. Premium Service aircraft, which operate between New York Kennedy and Los Angeles and San Francisco.
"United is improving the inflight experience and offering more customers the ability to stay connected, whether traveling throughout the country or abroad," said Jeff Foland, executive vice president of marketing, technology and strategy. "The expansion of satellite Wi-Fi capability underscores our commitment to provide our customers with the user-friendly experience they expect from the world's leading airline."
In-Flight Entertainment Options
United currently offers live television on 200 aircraft and plans to equip those aircraft with satellite Wi-Fi. The airline expects to introduce the first Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with Ka-band satellite technology into service later this fall.
Additionally this fall, United will begin rolling-out Wi-Fi-enabled wireless entertainment, which the airline expects to eventually have on more than 200 aircraft, including Airbus A319s and A320s, Boeing 747s and other fleets by mid-2014. This new option will offer customers on-demand programming from a library of movies and television shows, and equipped aircraft will offer more than 150 movies and nearly 200 television shows through its wireless network. Customers may access these entertainment options with a host of portable electronic devices, including many laptops, smartphones and tablets.
