In recent times, we’ve seen many airlines introduce Starlink Wi-Fi. Starlink has really raised the bar when it comes to inflight connectivity, in terms of the speeds and bandwidth, and also in terms of it being free across airlines.
While there’s no competing service that’s available yet, we know that Amazon is working on one, and Delta has just signed on as a customer.
In this post:
Delta will partner with Amazon on inflight connectivity
Delta and Amazon have announced that they’re launching a long term collaboration to overhaul inflight entertainment. Most significantly, the new agreement will bring high speed, low latency internet from Amazon Leo to Delta aircraft. Think of it as being along similar lines to Starlink, and offering speeds you’d be happy with at home.
The big catch here is the timeline — installation is expected to start in 2028, and is initially only planned for 500 aircraft, which makes up significantly less than half of Delta’s fleet (between mainline and regional aircraft).
Beyond the new inflight connectivity, Delta and Amazon say that they’ll also partner to expand the Delta Sync seat back experience, to add more personalization and options. Delta and Amazon Web Services (AWS) will also partner to use Amazon technologies and AI to improve the customer experience across the Delta travel journey.
Here’s how Delta CEO Ed Bastian describes this:
“Delta’s future is global. This agreement gives us the fastest and most cost-effective technology available to better connect the world today, and it deepens our work with a global leader that shares our ambition to build what’s next — creating even stronger human connection for our people and our customers for years to come.”
I’m happy to see this news, but the timeline isn’t ideal
I’m honestly pleased to see Starlink getting a bit of competition, since the company has had the entire high speed inflight internet market cornered. It’ll be nice that we can soon pick which hundred billionaire we’d like to enrich. 😉
Here in the United States, United, Alaska, and Hawaiian, have all signed on for Starlink. Then JetBlue was the first to commit to Amazon Leo, and now Delta is second. American is reportedly still considering both options.
As much as I appreciate the competition, I feel that this puts Delta at a significant disadvantage, especially for the airline keeping its premium reputation:
- Keep in mind Delta hasn’t even completed its latest round of Wi-Fi upgrades, which were announced a few years ago
- United expects to have Starlink on its entire fleet by the end of 2027, before Delta even installs Amazon Leo on a single aircraft
- The project will only start in 2028, and Delta only currently has plans to install this on 500 aircraft, which makes up well under half of the total fleet
It’s hard to give the airline too much credit for basically saying “yeah, we’ll start installing high speed Wi-Fi on less than half of our fleet after our biggest competitor finishes installing it on all planes.”
Bottom line
Delta plans to introduce Amazon Leo inflight Wi-Fi, making Delta the second airline to commit to Amazon’s new service, after JetBlue. Delta expects installation to start in 2028, and currently there are only plans for 500 planes to get the service.
This is good news, but I also feel this puts Delta at quite the disadvantage to United, as United will reportedly have Starlink on virtually all aircraft by the end of 2027.
What do you make of Delta selecting Amazing Leo?
If Leo works reliably, then no one really cares what brand/service provider it is. Whether we're helping Jeff or Elon become a trillionaire doesn't make it better or worse either.
Delta (and jetBlue) have been ahead of American, Alaska, United, etc. in that DL and B6 have provided free WiFi on most aircraft for years, while the others are still catching-up. Facts.
DL flyers don't need wi-fi. You have plenty of time to get caught up on email while you're standing in line to get in to the Sky Club.
OOF!
Well played, Jerry, well played indeed.
In fairness, fitting only half the fleet maybe makes sense. Seeing as the other half would be beyond retirement age by the time they got around to them.
you also realize that Viasat has said that it is launching a hybrid LEO/HEO solution?
Apparently you and Ben don't realize that DL is using multiple suppliers and their decision not to give all of their business to Amazon is because other suppliers might be able to also provide a high speed solution.
and, yes, DL is retiring aircraft including the 767s. UA, OTOH, has dozens of airplanes - 319s, 320s, and 777s parked because...
you also realize that Viasat has said that it is launching a hybrid LEO/HEO solution?
Apparently you and Ben don't realize that DL is using multiple suppliers and their decision not to give all of their business to Amazon is because other suppliers might be able to also provide a high speed solution.
and, yes, DL is retiring aircraft including the 767s. UA, OTOH, has dozens of airplanes - 319s, 320s, and 777s parked because they can't get parts for them.
I'm sure Starlink does wonders for the customer service on those parked aircraft.
TD out here commenting on early morning posts before his Haldol kicks in...
I've had a couple cups of coffee and have been awake for hours.
You clearly don't want to hear the reality that trying to pit this as UA gains an advantage is a fool's errand.
UA has talked endlessly about its high speed WiFi for years and yet still has far less than 5% of its mainline fleet w/ it.
This isn't just about DL. It is about how far UA is behind DL,...
I've had a couple cups of coffee and have been awake for hours.
You clearly don't want to hear the reality that trying to pit this as UA gains an advantage is a fool's errand.
UA has talked endlessly about its high speed WiFi for years and yet still has far less than 5% of its mainline fleet w/ it.
This isn't just about DL. It is about how far UA is behind DL, AA and B6. AS/HA and WN could have as many or higher percentages of aircraft with hi speed WiFi as UA.
the advantage that makes for fast rollout for Starlink works for other customers too.
Leo is undoubtedly using the same or better technology.
There simply is no more than a couple month advantage. To somehow think that any airline that had a multi-year headstart will be at a disadvantage is just plain silly.
and the biggest issue for the next 2 years and beyond will be fuel costs, not WiFi and not AVOD.
DL has a distinct fuel cost advantage that will put even more distance between itself and other carriers, esp. UA which pays the most per gallon for jet fuel of the big 4.
You were the one that made comments about fleet age while failing to realize that it is UA that has held onto old aircraft so it could grow and now not only are old, fuel inefficient aircraft a liability but capacity will have to be cut to support higher costs.
UA's post covid strategy doesn't and won't work - but some people will focus on a couple months worth of a supposed advantage while ignoring billions of dollars of real differences.
UNITED rising
you clearly mean their baggage mishandling rate and fuel expenses
I'm waiting for some fool (Tim) to tell us for the 100th time how Delta is #1 at everything and explain why this is amazing!
nope. But DL has led the global industry in WiFi aircraft installations and is upgrading to a new platform.
How any sane person could come to the conclusion that a 3 year headstart on high speed WiFi is erased by a 2 month completion date for UA Starlink before DL switches to Amazon Leo is beyond comprehension
and you do realize that UA tried - but failed - to acquire a refinery? It will be...
nope. But DL has led the global industry in WiFi aircraft installations and is upgrading to a new platform.
How any sane person could come to the conclusion that a 3 year headstart on high speed WiFi is erased by a 2 month completion date for UA Starlink before DL switches to Amazon Leo is beyond comprehension
and you do realize that UA tried - but failed - to acquire a refinery? It will be DL's refinery - not WiFi or anything else - that will set the trajectory of the next 5 years plus in the industry.
DL is likely saving 50 cents or more per gallon in jet fuel costs and those costs continue to go up.
UA will have no choice but to get rid of a lot of aircraft and grow their share a whole lot less given that they have the least fuel efficient widebody and RJ fleet in the US
Ben's commentary mirrors the insanity of the paid UA employee fan base.
But Ben clearly needed a DL vs UA pi789ng match thread so here we go.
Once again, UA's own execs say that they do not expect to have Starlink installed on all of its aircraft before 2027 which will mark years after after DL started installing WiFi on aircraft.
Let's keep in mind that DL has 900 mainline and several hundred RJs...
Ben's commentary mirrors the insanity of the paid UA employee fan base.
But Ben clearly needed a DL vs UA pi789ng match thread so here we go.
Once again, UA's own execs say that they do not expect to have Starlink installed on all of its aircraft before 2027 which will mark years after after DL started installing WiFi on aircraft.
Let's keep in mind that DL has 900 mainline and several hundred RJs with high speed WiFi now.
AA has about 700 mainline and hundreds of RJs with high speed WiFi.
B6' entire fleet of about 275 have it.
UA has TWELVE mainline aircraft with Starlink in service now. They will pass B6 in number of SEATS with Wifi later this year but will still not dethrone AA or DL until well into 2027.
There is no planet - other than on Wacko Drive in Chicago - on which the promise of free high speed WiFi on UA is more valuable than airlines that actually have it.
It was ALWAYS a given that someone else would come along and top Starlink and Amazon is the company to do it.
DL is very likely getting far better pricing than Starlink users and a stronger portfolio of Amazon services than Musk can offer any airline.
and the real issue for the next two years is not going to be WiFi speed or availability but fuel price.
DL will be saving billions in fuel costs compared to AA and UA because of the DL refinery.
Trump's word that the US may walk away from the Iran war w/o securing passage of the Strait of Hormuz should absolutely send terror up the spine of airline and transportation co. execs other than those at DL.
2026 and beyond will be the great purge of global airline capacity.
UA's fuel inefficient widebody strategy will bite very hard even as they pay the US' highest prices for jet fuel - on top of labor cost increases.
@ Tim Dunn -- Goodness gracious, take a deep breath. No one is saying that United's current Wi-Fi situation is better than Delta's current Wi-Fi situation.
All I'm saying -- and please tell me if you disagree -- is that *if* United more or less completes its Starlink installation by late 2027, and *if* Delta only starts installing Amazon Leo as of 2028, and only on less than half of the fleet, *then* United will...
@ Tim Dunn -- Goodness gracious, take a deep breath. No one is saying that United's current Wi-Fi situation is better than Delta's current Wi-Fi situation.
All I'm saying -- and please tell me if you disagree -- is that *if* United more or less completes its Starlink installation by late 2027, and *if* Delta only starts installing Amazon Leo as of 2028, and only on less than half of the fleet, *then* United will have a big advantage to Delta on this front for quite some time.
Agree or disagree? Can I get a straightforward answer? Please? :-)
you are the one that needs to be able to see the world in true perspective.
UA is simply not going to have an advantage for more than a couple months - while ignoring the three year headstart that DL already has. UA is dead last in high speed WiFi installation among the US airlines that have it. It will be 5 years after DL began high speed WiFI installation before UA completes Starlink.
Yes,...
you are the one that needs to be able to see the world in true perspective.
UA is simply not going to have an advantage for more than a couple months - while ignoring the three year headstart that DL already has. UA is dead last in high speed WiFi installation among the US airlines that have it. It will be 5 years after DL began high speed WiFI installation before UA completes Starlink.
Yes, LEO is better technology but the notion that anyone - including AA and B6 are or will be at a disadvantage because UA finally pulls itself out of last place - is just not credible.
to answer you question, I disagree w/ your assertion, Ben.
Amazon is a far more significant consumer company and DL execs already said that DL is getting far lower pricing from Amazon - not surprising given that DL appears to be the largest major global airline customer for Leo.
what seriously is Starlink going to do as part of a cobrand relationship with UA or any other Starlink customer?
Don't try so hard to stir up a controversy, Ben.
@ Tim Dunn -- Can you expand on how there won't be an advantage for more than a couple of months? Off what assumption does that go?
First the A330 engine issue, now this. Bad 24 hours for Delta!
the bad day is for the UA fans that have been crowing incessantly about the superiority of UA's Starlink WiFi which doesn't even exist on 10% of UA's mainline fleet.
and you also realize that UA just had a 777 that had a similar engine failure and ground fire not just at IAD but also at PEK?
You UA fan nut jobs would be a whole lot more bearable if you weren't so selective in the garbage you spew about other airlines while ignoring what happens at UA.
The Amazon installation would make a lot more sense for AA to do than DL. AA already has high speed wifi across their fleet and it works globally, even the widebodies with panasonic can stream -- horrible latency but I've streamed netflix on those easily before.
Don't get me wrong, I think the AA wifi should be upgraded in the coming years with the better tech but waiting two years seems less pressing for...
The Amazon installation would make a lot more sense for AA to do than DL. AA already has high speed wifi across their fleet and it works globally, even the widebodies with panasonic can stream -- horrible latency but I've streamed netflix on those easily before.
Don't get me wrong, I think the AA wifi should be upgraded in the coming years with the better tech but waiting two years seems less pressing for AA since AA already has high speed wifi across the fleet that works globally.
Delta has yet to complete high speed wifi on even their mainline fleet (I walked by about 4 DL 717 at a DL hub the other day -- none had a satellite receiver and they were the only 4 717 I saw) and their customers still lack wifi across the Pacific. You would've thought Delta would choose the faster installation option.
Then again, United has never had high speed wifi and their starlink installation has been news for a couple years now with little mainline aircraft installation though that's changing rapidly in the coming year.
very solid post. The 717s are getting WiFi installation unless DL decides to ground them as part of capacity pulldowns.
Nearly all of DL's 350s do have either Viasat or Hughes on it - just for pay over the Pacific.
Tell us again what US airlines offer free high speed WiFI over the Pacific. It sure doesn't include AA or UA.
and to your point below, the FAA has still not approved Starlink on the 787-9 which is a major part of AA and UA's longhaul fleet
At least AA and UA have internet (high speed ish on AA) across the Pacific. ;) That's more than Delta has ever had.
And AA does have free high speed wifi on some of their new 789P that fly TPAC on some routes.
Try not to lose your mind, like usual, today on this article. You have a chance to NOT look like an idiot early in the day. Try to save yourself from... yourself.
"The 717s are getting WiFi installation unless DL decides to ground them as part of capacity pulldowns."
So there's a "plan" for the 717s to get wifi, but just like the "plan" a few years ago that fell apart, it's tepid, at best, and not firm. Got it.
Is the Amazon LEO satellite installation even approved for any aircraft yet? I understand they have two years to meet this timeline but Starlink has had far longer and is still working on 787 installation approval for some 787s
Nothing on JBLU raising checked bag fees to almost $50 per bag?!
@ Art Vandy -- It's in the queue. :-) There's a LOT of news this morning!
It actually can’t be overstated how far behind Starlink this product is. 2028 itself is an optimistic timeline. I wouldn’t be surprised if this decision is reversed to save face in a year.
Delta's lack of TPAC wifi coverage is so bad.
10 to 16 hour flights without any connection.
Qantas is even worse. No WiFi on their A380 fleet at all, and only a couple of their 787's have it. For an airline that has a lot of extremely long flights, they have to be the absolute worst at connectivity.