United Airlines flyers can now watch nearly every MLB playoff game through a DISH streaming service backed by Starlink, the satellite arm of Elon Musk's SpaceX. The move, announced Friday, positions United against rivals that rely on other inflight connectivity providers.
The partnership underscores the growing importance of high-quality inflight Wi-Fi. "Quality inflight Wi-Fi is more important than ever to travelers, and because Starlink gives people the same — or better — connectivity in the sky than they can get at home, it's a reason to choose United," the company said.
The news follows comments from Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, who told The Wall Street Journal he is standing by his decision not to use Starlink for inflight Wi-Fi. United is also extending a status match offer to members of Delta and American Airlines loyalty programs, aiming to lure frequent travelers to its network.
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Source: Wall Street Journal Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing