American Airlines passengers could start connecting to onboard Wi-Fi via SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network next year. The airline announced Tuesday that it has signed a deal with Elon Musk’s aerospace company to install Starlink internet on its Airbus fleet in 2027, which includes more than 500 narrow-body planes.
Commercial flights see high internet usage as passengers work on cloud-based documents or stream movies and TV shows, activities that require substantial data and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity.
Starlink is among the fastest in-flight internet options, with reported speeds nearly twice those of the nearest competitor and comparable to or faster than some terrestrial broadband services. More than 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit ensure the system’s performance. By operating much closer to Earth than traditional satellites, they reduce latency – the time it takes for data to travel.
Jeff Carlson, CNET senior editor tested Starlink’s in-flight internet on United Airlines and was impressed with the internet experience. “Honestly, I would think I was at home with my high-speed fiber optic internet without the cabin noise and occasional sharp turns,” he wrote.
Which airlines have Starlink service
American is one of the world’s largest carriers by passenger volume, making this an important deal for SpaceX, which previously announced Starlink partnerships with United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Once Americans equip their planes with Starlink technology, the SpaceX service will operate on more than 2,300 commercial planes.
Despite partnering with several of the largest international airlines, SpaceX does not have a Starlink agreement with airline giant Delta Air Lines, which is instead partnership with Amazon for its in-flight Wi-Fi service, which is expected to go live later this year. Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Bloomberg that Amazon Leo is cheaper than SpaceX’s Starlink and includes a suite of streaming content.
The American-Starlink partnership comes just days after SpaceX files initial public offering. SpaceX’s scope of operations recently expanded after a merger with another Musk company, xAI. Analysts value the company at nearly $2 trillion and expect it could raise as much as $75 billion when it goes public, setting an IPO record and making Musk the the world’s first billionaire.
Representatives for SpaceX and American Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
