United Airlines to Add Wi-Fi and PDE to Regional Jets

United Airlines has unveiled plans to outfit more than 200 two-cabin United Express regional jets with Wi-Fi and personal device entertainment, with the first Wi-Fi-enabled flights expected later this year.

The airline intends to install Gogo’s ATG-4 advanced air-to-ground Wi-Fi product on E170, E175 and CRJ700 aircraft, and to complete planned installations by next summer.

Early next year, United expects to expand personal device entertainment to these aircraft, enabling customers to select from a range of movies and television shows to view on their Wi-Fi-enabled iOS and Android devices using United’s mobile app, as well as on laptop computers.

“United is pleased to extend our growing Wi-Fi and personal device entertainment platform to our fleet of larger regional jets,” said Jeff Foland, United’s executive vice president of marketing, technology and strategy. “These new elements will enhance the entire in-flight experience for our customers.”

Regional Jet Investments

United has made significant investments in its United Express service, including:

• A fleet of 120 brand new E175 regional jets, which offer 12 seats in United First with in-seat power, 16 United Economy Plus seats, and larger overhead bins throughout the aircraft;

• New, modern seats with a signature seat design on more than 100 CRJ700 aircraft and on the E175 fleet; and

• Freshly prepared food for premium-cabin customers on United Express flights beginning in 2015.

Wi-Fi and Entertainment Investments

The launch of regional jet Wi-Fi and personal device entertainment is United’s latest investment in its customers’ inflight connectivity. The airline also offers:

• More than 340 aircraft with Wi-Fi, including nearly two-thirds of its mainline domestic fleet, with plans to install Wi-Fi on the entire mainline fleet by mid-2015; and

• More than 180 mainline aircraft with personal device entertainment, including all Boeing 747s and Airbus aircraft and nine Boeing 777s that primarily fly between the continental U.S. and Hawaii. United plans to offer personal device entertainment on more than 200 mainline aircraft by the end of this year.