Picking sides, Delta picks Amazon Leo for in-flight Wi-Fi in blow to Starlink

Delta Air Lines Inc. signed an agreement with Amazon.com Inc. to use its Leo satellite service for in-flight Wi-Fi, marking a significant customer win for the e-commerce company’s space business as it competes with SpaceX’s Starlink for aviation customers.

The service will be installed on 500 Delta aircraft beginning in 2028, the airline announced on Tuesday. Delta will start with domestic-focused, narrow-body planes from Boeing and Airbus.

Amazon Leo, which stands for low Earth orbit, will provide faster and more reliable internet to support streaming video and messaging onboard. Chris Weber, Amazon Leo’s vice president, said the higher speeds come from its satellites being in orbit closer to Earth than some others.

“I think of the high-speed, reliable connectivity of the planes as foundation, and Delta will build some very unique experiences on top of that,” Weber said.

Weber said Amazon Leo is focused on building out its satellite constellations and has about 200 satellites in orbit and hundreds more manufactured for launching.