American Airlines is getting Starlink Wi-Fi

American Airlines plans to deploy SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi across more than 500 aircraft beginning in the first quarter of 2027. The rollout will include new Airbus A321XLR and A321neo planes. Starlink will join existing Wi-Fi providers Viastat and SES. Multiple airlines are signing satellite internet deals to improve in-flight connectivity. Low-earth orbit satellite systems like Starlink can provide lower latency than geostationary systems. Ookla reported higher median download speeds on Starlink-powered flights than on SES-powered flights. American’s customer officer said Starlink will help deliver the connectivity passengers want. Starlink is also used by several other major carriers, while Delta has partnered with Amazon Leo.

"American says the deployment will start in the first quarter of 2027, and will span more than 500 aircraft, including its new A321XLR and A321neo planes from Airbus. Starlink will join Viastat and SES (previously known as Intelstat) as among the airline's Wi-Fi providers."

"Airlines are scrambling to make deals with satellite internet providers in the hopes of improving the traditionally dismal connectivity offerings on flights. Wi-Fi that relies on low-earth orbit satellites, like Starlink, tend to offer lower latency thanks to the shorter distance the signal has to travel as compared to satellites in geostationary orbit. Viasat uses geostationary satellites, while SES uses multi-orbit, low-earth orbit, and geostationary satellites."

"A recent report from Ookla found that SES-powered flights reported median download speeds of 61.61 Mbps, while Starlink-powered ones were averaging 152.37 Mbps. I got to test out Starlink on a United flight last year, and was getting download speeds of around 128 megabits-per-second (Mbps), while upload speeds were coming in a little slower at an average of 23.9 Mbps."

""As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want," American Airlines Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in a statement. "The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.""

Read at The Verge