Amazon is clearly done watching from the sidelines. With its latest deal with Delta Air Lines, the company is bringing its Leo satellite network into the skies, and yes, this puts it in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink. Starting 2028, Delta will begin equipping around 500 aircraft with Amazon Leo-powered connectivity. The promise is simple but ambitious: fast, reliable, low-latency Wi-Fi that actually works from gate to gate. And like Delta’s current approach, it will remain free for SkyMiles members.
Finally, in-flight Wi-Fi that might actually work
Now, if you’ve ever tried using in-flight Wi-Fi, you already know the reality. It’s slow, inconsistent, and often just about good enough for sending a text, if that. Amazon is trying to change that by using low Earth orbit satellites, which sit much closer to the planet than traditional systems. That shorter distance means lower delay and better speeds, at least on paper.
Delta says passengers could see download speeds up to 1 Gbps, which, if it holds up in real-world use, would make streaming, uploading, and even working mid-air feel far less frustrating than they do today. But this isn’t just about faster internet on planes. It’s also about Amazon expanding its footprint. Delta already relies heavily on Amazon Web Services for its backend systems, and this new agreement deepens that relationship. The two companies are also talking about bringing in AI and other Amazon tools to improve the overall travel experience, not just what happens once you’re on the plane.
The Starlink rivalry is getting interesting
At the same time, it’s hard to ignore the bigger picture. Starlink has already been making moves in aviation, and Amazon’s entry with Leo makes this space much more competitive. It’s now more about who can make in-flight connectivity actually usable. For us passengers, if this works the way Amazon and Delta say it will, flying might finally come with internet that doesn’t feel like a compromise.