Delta Air Lines chooses to partner with Amazon for onboard wifi in snub to Elon Musk’s Starlink

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A major US airline has decided to partner with Amazon to bring high-speed wifi onboard, snubbing Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Delta Air Lines announced this week that it was launching a long-term collaboration with the company to bring high-speed, low-latency internet on its planes.

Delta will use Amazon Leo, the company’s low Earth orbit satellite network, on both its domestic and international flights.

The airline said passengers will be able to stream films and TV shows, listen to podcasts and audiobooks and stay connected to friends, family and colleagues while on a flight.

Delta said that it plans to introduce Amazon Leo on 500 planes initially, beginning in 2028.

The version being brought to Delta’s planes will be powered by an aviation-grade version of its most powerful antenna, Leo Ultra, which Amazon says is the fastest commercial antenna of its kind.

Delta first introduced onboard wifi for its “SkyMiles” members in 2023, using T-Mobile. The service has since expanded to more than 1,150 of its planes.

Unlike Delta, other major US airline competitors have decided to partner with Starlink for high-speed internet, operated by Elon Musk’s Starlink.

Similar to Amazon Leo, Starlink uses a network of thousands of low Earth-orbit satellites to provide high-speed broadband.

Both Southwest and United Airlines have both made deals for Starlink wifi on their flights, while other global airlines, including Emirates, British Airways and Qatar, have also chosen Mr Musk’s internet service.

JetBlue, however, also partners with Amazon Leo. The service is expected to be rolled out by 2027.

Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer, said: “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.”

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