United Airlines is making significant strides in improving inflight Wi-Fi on its 737 MAX fleet, especially for Hawaii routes. After a December report revealed surprisingly fast gate-to-gate Wi-Fi, it now appears that the airline is systematically upgrading its Viasat-equipped aircraft to provide this high-speed connectivity on more flights.
This move addresses a long-standing issue with unreliable Wi-Fi on flights to and from Hawaii.
While the airline’s future plans include integrating Starlink for even faster speeds and lower latency, the Viasat upgrades are a crucial interim step.
These enhancements offer passengers the ability to stay connected throughout the entire flight, including streaming, emailing, and browsing, which was once a rarity on long-haul flights over the Pacific. United’s upgrades are a game-changer for Hawaii travelers, offering reliable connectivity while Starlink deployment is still in the works.
These Wi-Fi improvements are part of United’s broader goal of providing consistent service on all Hawaii-bound flights, with even more aircraft expected to be equipped with the upgraded system in the near future. For now, Viasat is filling the gap until Starlink takes over.
This upgrade is a welcome development for travelers looking for a more seamless inflight experience.