Technology & Innovation
Boeing and United Airlines Validate Internet Protocol Suite in Flight Tests
Boeing and United Airlines tested the Internet Protocol Suite on a 737-8, enabling advanced data communications for aviation trajectory operations.
This article is based on an official press release from Boeing.
On December 10, 2025, Boeing and United Airlines announced the successful completion of a series of Test-Flights designed to modernize the digital infrastructure of global aviation. Utilizing a United Airlines Boeing 737-8, designated as the “2025 ecoDemonstrator Explorer,” the companies tested the Internet Protocol Suite (IPS), a high-bandwidth communication standard intended to replace legacy systems currently used by air traffic control (ATC) and airline operations centers.
According to the official press release, the tests took place in late October 2025, with flights conducted in Houston, Texas, and Edinburgh, Scotland. The primary objective was to demonstrate that commercial internet standards can reliably handle the complex data exchange required for modern flight operations, specifically enabling a concept known as Trajectory Based Operations (TBO).
The core of this testing initiative involves shifting aviation communications from the legacy Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) to the modern Internet Protocol Suite (IPS). ACARS, a technology dating back to the 1970s, relies on low-bandwidth, text-based messaging that functions similarly to a pager or SMS service. As air traffic volume increases, these legacy frequencies have become increasingly congested.
In contrast, the IPS system tested by Boeing and United utilizes high-bandwidth IP standards similar to terrestrial broadband. This shift allows for the transmission of “big data” packages, including complex weather maps, real-time engine diagnostics, and 4-dimensional trajectory data, rather than simple text strings.
The implementation of IPS is a critical prerequisite for Trajectory Based Operations (TBO), a management concept championed by the FAA and Eurocontrol. Under current protocols, ATC often manages aircraft separation by keeping planes miles apart in a single line, frequently necessitating holding patterns or inefficient stepped descents.
TBO aims to change this by allowing aircraft to negotiate a precise 4-dimensional path, incorporating latitude, longitude, altitude, and time, before takeoff. By utilizing the high-speed data capabilities of IPS, aircraft can fly continuous, optimized paths from departure to arrival, significantly reducing fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and flight delays.
“Boeing is proud to lead the advancement of digital communications that significantly enhance safety and operational efficiency… [This is] a pivotal step towards improving the reliability and speed of communication between the flight deck and air traffic control.”
Todd Citron, Boeing Chief Technology Officer
While Boeing led the program and United Airlines provided the aircraft and crew, the tests represented a broad industry collaboration involving multiple technology providers. The project required integrating satellite links, avionics software, and ground networks to create a seamless “multi-link” environment.
According to project details released by the partners, the specific contributions included:
The European Space Agency (ESA) also played a foundational role through its “Iris Global program,” which served as a precursor for the satellite technology utilized in these tests. Government partners, including the FAA and NASA, were involved in defining the standards for TBO and future airspace management.
“The ecoDemonstrator project is an outstanding collaboration to help support the ongoing upgrades within our air traffic control system… [We are] leveraging the expertise of all our teammates to help shape the future of flight.”
Andy McKee, United Airlines 737 Chief Test Pilot
The successful testing of IPS on a commercial airframe marks a significant inflection point for aviation infrastructure. For decades, the industry has been bottlenecked by the bandwidth limitations of ACARS, which restricts the amount of real-time data that can be shared between the ground and the cockpit. While modern aircraft generate terabytes of data, very little of it can be transmitted in flight under current standards.
We observe that the shift to IPS is not merely a technical upgrade but a necessary step for the industry to meet its “Net Zero” 2050 carbon goals. While propulsion breakthroughs like hydrogen and electric flight remain distant for large commercial jets, digital efficiencies like TBO offer immediate gains. Industry estimates suggest that flying optimized trajectories can reduce fuel burn by 1-2% per flight, a massive aggregate saving when applied to global traffic. This test validates that the “plumbing” required for these efficiencies is ready for real-world deployment.
This collaboration is part of Boeing’s long-running ecoDemonstrator program, which uses flying testbeds to evaluate new technologies outside of a laboratory setting. Since 2012, the program has tested over 250 technologies. Boeing states that approximately one-third of these technologies eventually transition into their production aircraft.
United Airlines has been a frequent partner in this initiative, previously collaborating on tests involving Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other efficiency measures. This latest test reinforces the carrier’s strategy of adopting early-stage technologies to enhance operational reliability and Sustainability.
Sources: Boeing Media Room
Boeing and United Airlines Validate Next-Gen “Internet Protocol Suite” in Flight Tests
Modernizing Aviation Communications
Enabling Trajectory Based Operations (TBO)
Industry-Wide Collaboration
AirPro News Analysis
The ecoDemonstrator Legacy
Sources
Photo Credit: Boeing