Airlines are racing to upgrade in-flight Wi-Fi, with many carriers adopting Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service from SpaceX. American Airlines announced plans to outfit over 1,000 planes with Starlink, joining United, Alaska and Southwest Airlines. Delta Air Lines has chosen Amazon's Leo satellite service instead, prompting Musk to publicly criticize Delta CEO Ed Bastian, suggesting he could lose his job.
Jet Blue also selected Amazon's service, which isn't yet available. Starlink's satellites orbit closer to Earth, offering faster speeds and better reliability than older systems. Alaska Airlines reported 20% higher customer satisfaction on Starlink-equipped flights.
The shift reflects airlines' efforts to improve passenger experience and grow loyalty programs, as free Wi-Fi encourages sign-ups and repeat business. Delta reported $20.2 billion in Q3 revenue, a company record.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing