United Airlines (UAL) received the green light from federal regulators t🌸o launch its first commercial flight w✃ith free Starlink Wi-Fi service in May. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the use of satellite internet from Starlink, a division of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Elon Musk’s SpaceX, on a regional jet model. United said it plans to install Starlink Wi-Fi on 40 planes per month and complete its fleet of more than 300 regional jets by the end of the year. The company plans to run beta tests of the technology prior to its first cust🃏omer flight in May. 

In September, United 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:signed a deal with Starlink to bring satellite internet access to its more than 1,000 planes over the next several years. The airline said it will work with the FAA to get approval to install Starlink on every aꦬircraft. 

Starlink Wi-Fi, which United says is 50 times faster than the internet service currently available on its regional planes, will be free for customers with MileagePlus, United’s free frequent flyer♈ program.

Shares of United dropped close to 3% intraday Monday amid a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:broader decline. Southwest Airlines (LUV), Delta Air Lines (DAL), and American Airlines (AAL) shares also traded lower.