United Airlines Installs Live Television on 200th Aircraft

United Airlines has equipped its 200th aircraft with live television, offering customers more than 100 channels of live programming while inflight.

United currently offers live television on most Boeing 737 aircraft and on many of its Boeing 757-300 aircraft.

In addition to live news, sports and family entertainment, passengers can enjoy up to eight newly released movies a month.

The service is complimentary for passengers in United First and available for purchase in United Economy starting at $5.99 and varying depending on the length of flight.

“The launch of live television on our 200th aircraft, our introduction this year of flat-bed seating on the transcontinental ‘p.s.’ service and satellite Wi-Fi now being implemented on our entire mainline fleet reflect our commitment to advancing the inflight experience for our customers,” said Tom O’Toole, senior vice president of Marketing and Loyalty at United and president of MileagePlus.

Live television-equipped aircraft also feature power outlets in United First and United Economy Plus, enabling most passengers to charge their cell phones, laptops, e-readers and other mobile devices.

The expansion of live television on United aircraft comes as the airline continues to invest in its onboard products. United is also:

• Installing satellite Wi-Fi. The airline expects to have more than 200 aircraft equipped with the service by the end of 2013.

• Adding flat-bed seating on all of the airline’s long-haul international aircraft. United currently offers more flat-bed seating than any other U.S. carrier.

• Introducing flat-bed seats on its transcontinental ‘p.s.’ Premium Service, offering a revamped premium cabin, all-new interiors, personal on-demand entertainment, Wi-Fi connectivity, in-seat power and USB ports. The airline expects to complete the reconfiguration of p.s. aircraft by the end of the year.

• Adding extra-legroom Economy Plus seating. The airline currently offers Economy Plus seating on nearly 650 mainline aircraft and approximately 150 regional jets.

• Nearly doubling the overhead storage space on more than 150 Airbus aircraft, with more than half of those retrofits completed.

• Implementing streaming wireless video onboard its Boeing 747-400 aircraft beginning later this year.