From high-speed Wi-Fi rollouts to updated check-in policies and labor negotiations, major airlines are making bold moves to enhance the passenger experience and streamline operations.
In this month’s airline news updates, we highlight key updates from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Air Canada, including groundbreaking tech upgrades, expanded in-flight connectivity and important policy changes every traveler should know.
United Airlines
On September 13, United Airlines signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s Wi-Fi service to the carrier's mainline and regional aircraft, offering passengers free high-speed internet. This move will enable United customers to enjoy gate-to-gate connectivity, providing access to live TV, streaming services, social media, shopping, gaming and more.
In addition to using Starlink connectivity on personal devices, passengers will also have access to their seat back screens. United has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with plans to expand this number as it continues to introduce new aircraft and retrofit existing ones with its United signature interior, which includes 16-inch HD touchscreens in business class, 13-inch screens in first class and 10-inch screens in economy.
United’s frontline employees will also benefit from this change. With the rollout of Starlink, pilots, flight attendants, technicians and gate agents will have access to the same connectivity in the air as they do on the ground through their mobile devices to run operations. This enhanced service will be particularly valuable in remote locations or during disruptions like power outages or natural disasters.
United plans to equip its entire fleet with Starlink within the next few years. Testing is set to begin in early 2025, with passenger flights expected later in the year. To learn more, you can view the press release on United Airlines’ website here.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Line will now provide free Wi-Fi across its entire global fleet in partnership with T-Mobile. The airline has already begun rolling out streaming-quality connectivity on select long-haul international routes and expects to bring free Wi-Fi to the vast majority of its customers by the end of 2024, with regional routes expected to follow in 2025.
The carrier has already added free Wi-Fi to most flights to/ from France, both to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), as well as flights to/ from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy. The airline will continue to expand according to the following schedule:
Initially, passengers accessing Wi-Fi on international flights will not need to log in with their SkyMiles account. However, later in 2024, Delta plans to require a SkyMiles membership to connect to the Wi-Fi on its Viasat Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.
Air Canada
As of September 4, Air Canada has introduced an earlier check-in deadline for its passengers. The new check-in policy will now require travelers on flights within Canada, as well as those to/ from the United States and international destinations (including Mexico and the Caribbean), to check in no later than 60 minutes before departure.
There are a few exceptions to the new standardized check-in policy. Air Canada passengers departing from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) and those booked on the new landline bus service from Hamiton or Kitchener/Waterloo have a check-in deadline of 30 minutes before departure.
Meanwhile, passengers can still check in online up to 24 hours before departure and drop off their luggage up to four hours before departure, which will help reduce congestion at security and customs. The Bag drop-off service will continue to close 45 minutes before departure.
This change comes as a potential Air Canada pilot strike was looming, but was recently averted due to a last-minute deal between Air Canada and its pilot. On September 15, the carrier and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing Air Canada’s more than 5,200 pilots, arrived at a four-year tentative agreement just ahead of the anticipated 72-hour strike or lockdown notice.