American Airlines Going With Starlink for In-Flight Wi-Fi
United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines also have deals with Starlink. Delta opted for Amazon Leo.
United, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines also have deals with Starlink. Delta opted for Amazon Leo.
WASHINGTON, May 27, 2026 – American Airlines is joining the ranks of airlines offering in-flight Starlink broadband.
The company is planning to upgrade more than 500 Airbus planes to offer the service, the company said Tuesday, work that will begin in the first quarter of 2027. Other major U.S. operators like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines have also struck deals with SpaceX to offer the company’s satellite broadband service.
The ‘vast majority’ of 911 calls are placed indoors, said VP of Government Affairs Bryan Darr.
Rivals AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are teaming up on a shared satellite network, a model of infrastructure collaboration that could boost connectivity and U.S. competitiveness.
Despite federal promises to accelerate deployment, many states are still waiting on approvals to access broadband funds.
The Trump administration official expressed excitement over the program’s expansion and hopes to see more progress.