United Airlines is betting that Starlink, SpaceX's in-flight satellite internet service, will win over customers loyal to other airlines. Chief executive officer Scott Kirby said on the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings call that the carrier sees evidence the service influences which airline people choose. United offers more Starlink flights than the entire US airline industry combined, Kirby said. It has launched a tracker so customers can check whether their flight has the service. Kirby said some customers loyal to rival airlines switched solely because of Starlink, and stayed after trying United. He expects higher revenue per available seat mile in 2027 and beyond. Third-quarter total operating revenue rose 17% year over year to $17.9 billion. Loyalty and premium revenue each grew 17%, while basic economy revenue rose 16%.

United Airlines has received its first Airbus A321XLR aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney's GTF Advantage engines, marking the inaugural delivery of this enhanced engine variant. The GTF Advantage offers up to twice the operational lifespan of current GTF engines and provides 4-8% more takeoff thrust, enabling extended range capabilities. The engine features an advanced hot section design and remains fully compatible with existing GTF models, simplifying fleet operations. Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, plans to transition its entire PW1100G-JM production line to the Advantage specification by 2028. Current GTF operators will be able to access 90-95% of the Advantage's durability improvements through a Hot Section Plus upgrade option, available from early next year during scheduled maintenance visits.

DISH and United Airlines have partnered to bring live football to passengers on Starlink-enabled flights. The service launches this week on over 200 United aircraft, expanding to nearly 700 planes by February 2027. Passengers will have access to nine live sports channels including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NFL Network, and Prime Video's Thursday Night Football. The service covers both college and professional football games throughout the 2026–2027 season. The partnership uses DISH's OnStream platform, which delivers entertainment across multiple business sectors including hospitality, senior living, and aviation. The collaboration aims to keep sports fans connected to live games whilst travelling at 35,000 feet.