Delta opts for Amazon Leo instead of Starlink for satellite internet in aircraft

Amazon has signed a multi-year contract with Delta Air Lines to provide internet access to 500 aircraft via its Leo satellite service. The Leo satellite internet is still under development and is currently only available to a limited extent and for individual organizations. However, Amazon has further rocket launches planned for this year. While there are still open questions regarding the official approval of the satellite network, Delta is apparently confident enough to prioritize Amazon Leo over Elon Musk's market leader, Starlink.

According to the authorization granted by the US telecommunications authority FCC in 2020, Amazon was supposed to have launched 1,618 satellites into orbit by the end of July this year, about half of the satellites intended for the complete network. The company will not achieve this; so far, there are just over 200. Therefore, an extension of 24 months was recently requested because Amazon needs more time to build its satellite network. Last week, the company therefore promised to increase satellite production and launch cadence for Leo. Eleven launches are planned for this year, and the number is expected to increase to 20 launches per year in the future. Each rocket carries about 20 to 30 satellites into space.

Slower network build-up for fast aircraft Wi-Fi

This has apparently convinced Delta that Amazon's satellite internet will be widely available from 2028. From that year, 500 aircraft are to be equipped with it to offer passengers Wi-Fi via satellite access. Users will receive download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and uploads of up to 400 Mbps with Leo, according to the Amazon announcement. The two companies also refer to the good cooperation so far between Delta and Amazon Web Services (AWS), the group's cloud services, which leads Delta to trust Amazon.

With the approximately 200 Leo satellites launched so far, Amazon is not only massively behind its plans and the requirements of US authorities in expanding its satellite network, but also behind the competition. Starlink, belonging to Elon Musk's space company SpaceX, already has just over 10,000 satellites in orbit, making it by far the largest satellite operator worldwide. The market leader in satellite internet benefits not only from an earlier start in satellite deployment (since 2019) but also from the reusability of the company's own Falcon 9 rockets. Amazon, on the other hand, has to commission external partners for rocket launches, including SpaceX in addition to Blue Origin and the United Launch Alliance (ULA).

Second Leo contract with an airline

The agreement with Delta is Amazon's second contract with an airline for Leo satellite internet, as the company already secured US airline JetBlue in the fall of 2025. From 2027, a quarter of JetBlue's fleet is to be equipped with satellite internet access. Starlink, on the other hand, already has several airlines as partners. SpaceX's service just won over Southwest Airlines last month, after Starlink contracts had previously been concluded with United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines, reports Reuters.

The terms and financial details of the contract between Amazon and Delta Air Lines were not disclosed, but the airline promises that Amazon's satellite internet will be available free of charge to members of Delta's SkyMiles frequent flyer program during flights.

(fds)