American Airlines said it will equip more than 500 narrow-body aircraft with Starlink, expanding SpaceX’s in-flight internet business as U.S. carriers race to upgrade onboard Wi-Fi. The rollout will begin early next year and will cover American’s Airbus narrow-body fleet, including the A321neo. The airline had been evaluating Starlink alongside Amazon Leo as recently as March before choosing Starlink for the new deployment. American said it does not currently plan to replace the Wi-Fi providers on its Boeing fleet, which continues to use a mix of Viasat and Panasonic.
The move comes as airlines intensify competition for premium and higher-spending travelers by improving the speed and reliability of onboard internet. American introduced free in-flight Wi-Fi for members of its frequent flyer program in January, following similar moves by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and others. The broader industry shift reflects growing pressure to make air travel more connected and more attractive to passengers who increasingly expect seamless digital access while flying.
Other major U.S. airlines have also been making decisions around next-generation connectivity. Delta announced in March that it would adopt Amazon Leo for in-flight Wi-Fi on hundreds of aircraft beginning in 2028. United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which completed its merger with Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, have chosen Starlink for their fleets. These selections highlight a competitive landscape in which airlines are choosing between major satellite providers to deliver faster, more reliable service to passengers.
For SpaceX, the agreement adds to the momentum of Starlink as it continues to expand beyond consumer broadband and into aviation. The company is preparing for a public offering that could be one of the largest IPOs on record next month. In its recent filing, SpaceX said its connectivity business, which includes Starlink, generated $11.39 billion in revenue last year and accounted for 61% of the company’s total sales. The American Airlines deal further strengthens Starlink’s position in a fast-growing market where airlines are increasingly treating in-flight internet as a core customer amenity and a potential source of competitive advantage.
