United Airlines – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Spotify that aims to deliver an even more entertaining travel experience in the sky. 450+ hours of content are now available for free on the airline’s 130,000+ seatback screens, many of which offer stunning 4K quality and Bluetooth audio compatibility.
This is the first time Spotify has offered audiobooks and video podcasts onboard an airline, allowing United flyers to enjoy more than 65+ pieces of content, including popular titles like Good Hang with Amy Poehler, The Dave Chang Show, and The Comment Section with Drew Afualo.
In addition, next year United passengers will be able to use their personal devices to log into the Spotify app on the inflight entertainment screen. This will allow passengers to enjoy their favourite personalised content on the seatback, so they can pick-up their favourite podcasts, music, and audiobooks from right where they left off.
“Spotify has a huge audience and people love their content. And now our customers can enjoy it all in a simple and easy way, at 35,000 feet,” said Richard Nunn, CEO of MileagePlus. “Together, we’re giving millions of customers an entirely new way to experience and explore premium content from the world’s most popular artists, authors and podcasters – all while flying with the latest technology in the sky.”
Spotify content will be available on more than 680 United aircraft and appear as a new content category – ‘Spotify’. This replaces ‘audio’ under the home menu and includes ‘Podcast’, ‘Video Podcasts’, ‘Audiobooks’, and ‘Playlists’ channels. Additionally, in the coming months, a majority of aircraft will receive a dedicated ‘Spotify’ featured channel where all Spotify content will be housed together for quick and easy enjoyment.
“As a frequent United flyer myself, it’s incredibly exciting to see Spotify now available on the world’s largest airline,” said Ian Geller, VP of Business Development at Spotify. “At Spotify, we’re dedicated to being everywhere our users are, giving creators opportunities to reach new platforms and engage different audiences. I’m especially looking forward to bringing an even more personalised app streaming experience to seatbacks next year.”
On Starlink-equipped aircraft, travellers can stream Spotify content on their personal devices from gate-to-gate without interruption. All they will need to do is log in to their MileagePlus account and accept the terms and conditions for using Starlink. From there, travellers can open their Spotify app and stream content, just like they do at home.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to deliver exclusive keynote at FTE Global 2025
We’re excited to confirm that Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, will deliver a keynote address at Future Travel Experience Global, co-located with APEX/IFSA Global EXPO, taking place on 9 to 11 September in Long Beach, California. Appointed CEO in 2020 during the most challenging period in the airline’s history, Scott has led United through a bold transformation – launching the United Next growth plan, committing to be 100% green by 2050 without relying on traditional carbon offsets, taking real action on diversity, equity and inclusion with the opening of the United Aviate Academy, and becoming the first major U.S. airline to offer free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi. In this exclusive keynote interview, Kirby will offer an inside look at the strategy forging this incredible transformation, including the cultural and operational shifts that are rapidly accelerating the airline’s progress.
View the first FTE Global Premium Conference agenda >> Join us at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” – in LA, 9 to 11 September 2025 – registration live >>You may also be interested in
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