Elon Musk says Delta Air Lines “will lose a lot of customers” for choosing Amazon’s Leo satellite service for its in-flight WiFi instead of Starlink, a jab that landed right after United Airlines passed 600 Starlink-equipped aircraft and one that puts Delta’s timing in an awkward spotlight.
United now has Starlink on more than 600 jets, roughly 36 percent of its fleet, and expects full-fleet coverage by the end of 2027. Delta, by contrast, will not start rolling out Amazon Leo-powered WiFi until 2028, meaning United passengers get years of high-speed cabin internet before Delta’s alternative even switches on. American Airlines picked its side in May, committing to Starlink on more than 500 narrowbody aircraft starting in early 2027.
In-flight internet is quickly becoming the defining technology split in commercial aviation, with more than 40 airlines across 20 countries having now launched, installed or committed to Starlink, from Southwest’s first Starlink jet to United’s push onto widebodies like the 787-8 Dreamliner. The race reached another milestone this week when SWISS flew its first Starlink-equipped aircraft with gate-to-gate connectivity.
Whether Musk’s prediction holds up will be decided by passengers rather than posts, and Delta is betting that Leo will be competitive when its rollout begins in 2028. By then, though, United’s entire fleet could be flying with Starlink and American’s narrowbodies will be coming online. In an industry where travelers increasingly pick flights by the quality of the WiFi, showing up two years late is a risky place to start.
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