United Airlines – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has announced that full seasons of select Apple TV+ global hits will now be available for free on the airline’s 130,000+ seatback screens and in the United app, including award-winning shows such as Severance, Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses and Silo and more.
United has made a series of investments in the seatback experience in recent years, including installing seatback screens in every seat as part of its United Next growth plan and most recently announcing a new aircraft interior that includes huge, Bluetooth-enabled, 27-inch, 4K OLED seatback screens. The introduction of Apple TV+ aligns with United’s plans to have 300,000+ screens across its fleet as it takes delivery of hundreds of new aircraft and retrofits existing aircraft.
“Apple creates groundbreaking original series, and United travellers are going to love watching fan-favourite Apple Originals for free on their next flight,” said Mark Muren, Managing Director of Product, Identity and Loyalty, United Airlines. “We’re setting a new standard for a premium inflight experience, and our first-of-its-kind collaboration with Apple TV+ gives fliers more high-quality content options on the latest high-definition seatback screens.”
Apple Original series will appear on a featured Apple TV+ channel and include the entire first seasons of Severance, Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses and Silo, with The Morning Show and Bad Sisters to be added this September. The airline will continue adding new seasons and content each month, including more than 250 TV show episodes, feature documentaries and films – all for free inflight on United’s seatback screens and in the United app.
United has previously partnered with Apple to launch game-changing innovations that help customers and employees, including:
- Live flight updates for iPhone and Apple Watch: United was the first U.S. airline to support Live Activities for iPhone, allowing customers to get live, personalised flight notifications for details such as countdown to boarding, gate number, seat, bag tracking and more right on their iPhone Lock Screen or Dynamic Island – all without opening the United app. Similarly, with Live Activities on Apple Watch, customers can access important flight information right from their wrist.
- Bag tracking enhancements: United integrated Apple’s Share Item Location for AirTag, so customers everywhere who travel with an AirTag or Find My network accessory can seamlessly share the accessory location with United’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event that it is mishandled.
- Mobilised employees: With iPhone and iPad, United employees are fully mobile and empowered to be their most effective – making tasks simpler to complete, communication easier, and flying more enjoyable for customers.
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.
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