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Delta Chooses Amazon Leo for 500 Jets, Setting 2028 Low‑Orbit Wi‑Fi Rollout as Starlink Expands

The deal signals a two‑player race for inflight internet built on low‑orbit satellites.

Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

Overview

  • Delta said it will install Amazon Leo on an initial 500 aircraft beginning in 2028.
  • Amazon Leo, rebranded from Project Kuiper, has just over 200 satellites in orbit, says it needs more than 500 to start service, and plans a constellation of over 3,000.
  • Starlink is already being fitted across major fleets including Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, United and Virgin Atlantic, with Aer Lingus newly joining the rollout.
  • Delta’s current free Wi‑Fi uses Viasat on about 1,150 planes, which is not low‑latency low Earth orbit technology and could trail the experience on Starlink‑equipped rivals.
  • Low Earth orbit systems fly much closer to Earth than legacy geostationary satellites, which cuts lag and improves gate‑to‑gate coverage over oceans and poles, a shift that is challenging older GEO‑based providers.