American Airlines plans to bring faster inflight internet to a large part of its fleet through a new partnership with Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, as the airline confirmed that more than 500 narrowbody aircraft will receive the upgraded Wi Fi system starting in the first quarter of 2027.
The airline says the upgrade will cover a major portion of its Airbus narrowbody fleet, including upcoming A321XLR and A321neo aircraft deliveries, as American continues pushing for a better onboard experience across domestic and short haul international routes.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
American Airlines focuses on faster onboard internet
American Airlines says Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellite network will give passengers access to much faster and more reliable internet compared to older inflight systems that often struggle with speed and stability during crowded flights.
The airline explained that Starlink’s Aero Terminal system supports speeds of up to 1 Gbps per antenna, which is enough for streaming video, online gaming, video meetings, browsing, and real time communication during flights.
American Airlines Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said the company wants passengers to stay connected throughout their journey without worrying about downloading files before boarding or dealing with lag during a flight.
SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Enterprise Sales Jason Fritch also said the partnership will help create a fully connected experience from gate to gate for both leisure and business travelers.
More airlines are moving toward satellite internet
American Airlines joins a growing list of airlines shifting to satellite based inflight internet systems as demand for better onboard connectivity continues rising among travelers.
United Airlines has already started rolling out Starlink internet on some aircraft, while Southwest Airlines plans to launch its Starlink powered Wi Fi service this summer.
At the same time, Amazon is expanding its own satellite internet business through Project Kuiper and its recent Globalstar acquisition, which also supports Apple’s emergency satellite services on iPhone and Apple Watch devices.
Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have already signed agreements with Amazon’s satellite internet service for future inflight connectivity, showing how major airlines are now competing to offer faster and more stable internet in the sky.
Discussion