Musk Reignites Feud Over Delta's Choice of Rival In-Flight WiFi

Elon Musk has reignited his feud with Delta Air Lines over its decision to partner with Amazon's Leo in-flight WiFi service instead of Starlink. Musk argued that customers would choose airlines offering Starlink, and this prediction appears to be coming true.

Last year, Delta announced a deal with Amazon Leo for in-flight internet, citing improved bandwidth at a lower price point than Starlink. However, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell revealed during the company's recent earnings call that one airline (though not named) reported customers choosing unnecessary layovers to ensure they were on a flight with Starlink.

Starlink is ahead of Amazon Leo in terms of scale, with over 10,000 active satellites and partnerships with 43 airlines. In contrast, Leo has fewer than 400 satellites and only two announced airline customers: JetBlue and Delta. Amazon plans to start offering the service on JetBlue flights next year and will be available on Delta in 2028.

United Airlines and American Airlines have chosen Starlink for their in-flight WiFi needs, but access is still limited due to the requirement of installing terminals that take planes out of service.