Amazon’s satellite internet unit, Leo, has signed a major agreement with Delta Air Lines to provide in-flight Wi-Fi across 500 aircraft starting in 2028, marking its second significant airline partnership as it accelerates efforts to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink in the aviation connectivity market.
The deal intensifies competition between Amazon’s emerging low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband network and SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently dominates the sector due to its larger satellite fleet and broader global coverage.
Amazon previously secured its first airline agreement last year with JetBlue, under which Leo service will be deployed on a quarter of the carrier’s fleet beginning in 2027. Airlines have increasingly turned to low-orbit satellite constellations to improve in-flight connectivity, promising faster speeds and fewer service disruptions compared to traditional systems.
Delta will install Leo terminals on new aircraft, with service expected to begin in 2028 on flights within the continental United States, according to Delta’s chief marketing and product officer, Ranjan Goswami. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Goswami said Delta selected Amazon’s system partly due to its existing relationship with Amazon Web Services, Amazon’s cloud computing division.
The move places Amazon in direct competition with Starlink, which has already signed aviation connectivity agreements with carriers including Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.
Amazon’s Leo network represents a planned multi-billion-dollar investment—at least $10 billion—to build a global satellite internet system for consumers and businesses. Chris Weber, vice president of Amazon’s Leo unit, said the company has launched 214 satellites since April 2025 and intends to significantly accelerate deployment, with more than 20 launches planned over the next year.
Weber also said Amazon has secured roughly 100 launches across multiple providers, including Blue Origin and the United Launch Alliance joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Some launches are also planned aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Despite its expansion, Amazon still trails SpaceX significantly. Since 2019, SpaceX has deployed more than 10,000 satellites, making it the world’s largest satellite operator and giving it a substantial lead in the low-Earth orbit broadband market.
In January, Amazon asked the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a two-year extension to meet a July 2026 deadline requiring it to deploy half of its planned 3,200 satellites. The request drew criticism from rivals, with FCC Chair Brendan Carr previously questioning Amazon’s deployment pace.
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