SpaceX (SPCX) stock fell 3.02% to $147.56 on Thursday morning, a decline of $4.60, even as United Airlines reported significant progress installing SpaceX's satellite internet service across its commercial aircraft fleet. Shares recovered from sharp intraday lows but remained in negative territory during the morning session.

The move came alongside a series of operational announcements: United detailed the progress of its Starlink installation program, extended a loyalty promotion tied to its Wi-Fi service, and launched a tool for tracking onboard availability, while SpaceX continues to broaden the service's reach across the aviation industry.

United Airlines Expands Starlink Wi-Fi Across 635 Aircraft

United Airlines announced Thursday that more than 635 aircraft now offer Starlink Wi-Fi across its domestic and international network. The installations cover nearly half of the carrier's daily departures, marking another milestone in its satellite connectivity program. United continues to install the technology on approximately 20 aircraft per week as coverage expands, and the airline expects to complete its planned fleetwide rollout by the end of 2027. That installation pace gives observers a concrete benchmark for tracking how quickly United closes the remaining gap to its 2027 fleetwide goal.

More than 250,000 passengers currently access Starlink-equipped aircraft each day across approximately 2,500 flights. Since launching the service, United has carried over 37.7 million passengers across 538,000 flights featuring Starlink connectivity — a scale that shows satellite internet moving from an early trial toward a routine feature of the airline's operation.

New Tracker Lets Passengers Check Starlink Availability

United also introduced a digital tracking platform that allows customers to check Starlink availability before departure. Passengers can enter their flight number and travel date within three days of a scheduled journey. The platform highlights differences in installation progress across aircraft types and operating hubs, and provides installation statistics across major hubs, including Chicago, Newark, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

A recent preview of the tracker showed Starlink availability on 48% of departures, with 43% of the fleet equipped. Chicago recorded 55% coverage, while San Francisco reported 35%. By publishing coverage percentages hub by hub, the tracker also functions as a public progress report on the rollout as it approaches the 2027 target.

Starlink Broadens Its Commercial Aviation Partnerships

SpaceX continues strengthening Starlink's commercial aviation presence as additional airlines adopt its satellite internet technology. The carriers involved with, or committed to, the service now span airlines based in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

American Airlines recently announced plans to install Starlink on more than 1,030 mainline aircraft beginning in early 2027. The expansion will cover narrowbody and widebody aircraft, extending Starlink's reach across another major U.S. carrier. Alaska Air Group has introduced Starlink connectivity across approximately 38% of its combined airline fleet, while Qatar Airways provides the service aboard 150 widebody aircraft. Air France targets broader coverage, and Emirates has announced plans to introduce Starlink, further expanding the service's international aviation presence. Among U.S. carriers, American's installation phase beginning in early 2027 stands out as the next major expansion point.

Beyond aviation, SpaceX — Space Exploration Technologies Corp. — recently announced an agreement to acquire Grain Management's nationwide 800 MHz wireless spectrum portfolio. The transaction would support Starlink Mobile's expansion through satellite connectivity and terrestrial wireless network integration, as the company develops communications services beyond its existing residential and commercial satellite internet operations. If completed, the spectrum purchase would place the airline rollout and SpaceX's mobile ambitions on parallel growth tracks.

United Extends Wi-Fi Status Match Campaign

United also extended its Switch to Better Wi-Fi status match campaign through October 22. Eligible American Airlines and Delta Air Lines loyalty members can qualify for United Premier status through January 2028. Participants must meet spending requirements between $1,500 and $7,000 and complete a qualifying flight within 90 days.

United reported a 275% increase in status match applications compared with levels before the campaign. New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco generated the highest participation volumes during the promotional period. The figures underline how onboard connectivity has become a competitive lever in loyalty marketing, with United using its Wi-Fi upgrade to draw in frequent flyers from rival carriers.

United continues to use Starlink connectivity to support its passenger experience and loyalty program strategy as its installation program progresses toward the 2027 target. With United's fleetwide deadline at the end of 2027, American Airlines' installations beginning in early 2027, and the announced spectrum transaction still ahead, SpaceX's connectivity push has several visible milestones that will show how far Starlink's footprint extends across commercial aviation and beyond.

Source: Blockonomi