Amazon has finalized a deal with Delta to provide Leo satellite Wi-Fi to 500 aircraft, intensifying the competition with Starlink
Amazon has finalized a deal with Delta to provide Leo satellite Wi-Fi to 500 aircraft, intensifying the rivalry with Starlink in the aviation sector.
Amazon’s satellite internet division, Leo, has entered into a significant agreement with Delta Air Lines to deliver in-flight Wi-Fi on 500 aircraft beginning in 2028. This partnership represents Leo’s second major collaboration with an airline as it intensifies its efforts to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink in the aviation connectivity sector.
The agreement heightens the rivalry between Amazon’s developing low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband network and SpaceX’s Starlink, which presently leads the industry thanks to its more extensive satellite fleet and wider global reach.
Last year, Amazon established its inaugural airline agreement with JetBlue, which will see Leo service implemented on a quarter of the airline’s fleet starting in 2027. Airlines are increasingly utilizing low-orbit satellite constellations to enhance in-flight connectivity, offering faster speeds and reduced service interruptions in comparison to conventional systems.
Delta plans to install Leo terminals on new aircraft, with service anticipated to commence in 2028 for flights within the continental United States, as stated by Delta’s chief marketing and product officer, Ranjan Goswami. The details regarding the financial aspects of the agreement remain undisclosed.
Goswami stated that Delta chose Amazon’s system in part because of its established relationship with Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing division of Amazon.
This action positions Amazon in direct rivalry with Starlink, which has already established aviation connectivity agreements with carriers such as Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.
Amazon’s Leo network signifies a proposed investment of at least $10 billion aimed at establishing a global satellite internet system for both consumers and businesses. Chris Weber, vice president of Amazon’s Leo unit, announced that the company has successfully launched 214 satellites since April 2025 and aims to greatly speed up deployment, with over 20 launches scheduled for the upcoming year.
Weber mentioned that Amazon has obtained approximately 100 launches through various providers, including Blue Origin and the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin known as the United Launch Alliance. There are additional launches scheduled to take place on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Even with its growth, Amazon remains far behind SpaceX. Since 2019, SpaceX has launched over 10,000 satellites, establishing itself as the largest satellite operator globally and securing a significant advantage in the low-Earth orbit broadband market.
In January, Amazon requested a two-year extension from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to meet a deadline in July 2026, which mandates the deployment of half of its planned 3,200 satellites. The request faced backlash from competitors, as FCC Chair Brendan Carr had earlier raised concerns about Amazon’s speed of deployment.
