In a significant move within the aviation and digital entertainment sectors, Spotify has forged a strategic partnership with United Airlines. This collaboration will integrate Spotify’s extensive audio and video content directly into the in-flight entertainment systems of over 680 United aircraft.
The agreement grants Spotify access to more than 130,000 seat-back screens, enabling the company to offer its diverse range of audio podcasts, video podcasts, audiobooks, and curated playlists to millions of travelers annually, free of charge. This marks a notable expansion for Spotify, representing the first instance of its audiobooks and video podcasts being available onboard an airline.
United Airlines, which transported 173.6 million passengers in 2024, is leveraging this partnership to enhance its passenger experience. The integration will see Spotify appear as a new content category, replacing the generic “audio” option on in-flight menus. Over the coming months, a dedicated Spotify channel will be introduced across the majority of United’s fleet, consolidating all Spotify content for ease of access.
A key feature of this alliance, slated for 2026, will allow passengers on Starlink-equipped aircraft to log into their personal Spotify accounts via the seat-back screens. This functionality will enable a personalized listening experience, allowing travelers to access their saved content and pick up where they left off.
Richard Nunn, CEO of MileagePlus, United’s loyalty program, emphasized the broad appeal of Spotify’s content, stating that this partnership offers customers an “entirely new way to experience and explore premium content.” Ian Geller, VP of Business Development at Spotify, highlighted the company’s commitment to reaching users across various platforms and providing creators with new audiences.
This initiative underscores Spotify’s strategic push into new distribution channels beyond traditional mobile and desktop interfaces, reflecting an industry trend towards enriching the passenger journey with diverse digital offerings. United will also promote Spotify Premium subscriptions to its MileagePlus members, providing incentives for new sign-ups.
[H/T] Music Business Worldwide