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Amazon Leo · Delta Air Lines · In-Flight Wi-Fi · Satellite Internet
Amazon's Leo satellite internet unit secured a significant deal with Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi on 500 of the airline's planes, with service commencing in 2028, intensifying competition in the burgeoning satellite internet market.
This partnership marks Amazon's second major airline agreement, following a 2027 deal with JetBlue, and directly challenges Elon Musk's Starlink, which has existing contracts with Southwest, United, Alaska, and Hawaiian Airlines. Delta's Chief Marketing and Product Officer, Ranjan Goswami, stated the airline chose Leo due to its existing relationship with Amazon Web Services.
Amazon has invested at least $10 billion in its global satellite internet network, having launched 214 satellites since April 2025, and plans to double its deployment pace with over 20 launches in the next 12 months, according to Chris Weber, Vice President of the Leo business. Amazon is "months away" from starting commercial service, expanding regionally as its constellation grows.
Delta currently uses Viasat and Hughes for Wi-Fi across its approximately 1,200 planes, serving 163 million SkyMiles members. Amazon has roughly 100 launches under contract with providers like Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, and SpaceX, valued at several billion dollars.
SpaceX's rapid deployment of over 10,000 satellites since 2019, aided by its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, gives it a significant advantage. Amazon's request for a two-year extension to its July 2026 FCC deadline for deploying half of its 3,200 satellites has drawn criticism from SpaceX and FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
