Amazon's Leo satellite internet unit has signed a deal with Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi on 500 of the airline's planes starting in 2028. This marks Amazon's second major partnership in the skies as it competes with Elon Musk's Starlink for a share of the in-flight Wi-Fi market.
Core Facts
Amazon's Leo service will be installed on new Delta planes and will initially serve flights within the continental U.S. The deal follows Amazon's first partnership with JetBlue, announced last year, which will provide Leo service on a quarter of JetBlue's fleet starting in 2027. Southwest Airlines recently announced a deal to use Starlink on its planes, joining United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines, among others.
Deeper Dive & Context
Competition in Satellite Internet
Amazon's Leo network has launched 214 satellites since April 2025 and aims to double its deployment pace with over 20 launches planned in the next 12 months. The company has invested at least $10 billion in the project and is "months away" from starting commercial service, according to Chris Weber, vice president of the Leo business. The service will begin in small regions and expand as the satellite constellation grows.
Delta's Current Wi-Fi Services
Delta currently uses satellite services from Viasat and Hughes across its roughly 1,200 planes to offer in-flight Wi-Fi for passengers signed up to its SkyMiles program. Around 163 million members have used that service so far.
Future Plans and Commerce Opportunities
Delta Chief Marketing and Product Officer Ranjan Goswami emphasized the demand for faster speeds and more bandwidth, noting that passengers want to share videos and photos from their trips. He also highlighted potential commerce opportunities as Delta refreshes its in-flight technology to update movie selections and other entertainment faster, offering bigger libraries. Delta has about 165,000 seat-back screens in its fleet.
Technical Advantages
Chris Weber of Amazon Leo noted that the higher speeds come from its satellites, which are in orbit closer to Earth than some others. He described the high-speed, reliable connectivity as a foundation for Delta to build unique experiences on top of.
Market Implications
Airlines have been turning to faster in-flight Wi-Fi and making the service free for loyalty program members as they seek to win over passengers and monetize a captive audience of millions with personalized ads and potential shopping. The competition between Amazon Leo and Starlink is expected to drive innovation and improve service quality for passengers.