SpaceX's Starlink will soon provide in-flight Wi-Fi for American Airlines

Source: Engadget

Unsplash/Omar Prestwich

American Airlines partners with SpaceX for in‑flight Wi‑Fi

SpaceX has signed a contract to provide Starlink satellite Wi‑Fi to American Airlines flights, according to a report by CNBC¹. American Airlines will outfit more than 500 of its narrow‑body aircraft with Starlink technology, with integration slated to begin early next year. The airline has indicated that it will retain its current providers—Viasat and Panasonic—for its wide‑body fleet.

Industry adoption of Starlink

Satellite internet has transformed in‑flight connectivity, moving from painfully slow speeds to broadband‑class performance. This development follows American Airlines’ earlier partnership with AT&T to offer free Wi‑Fi to AAdvantage members².

SpaceX’s Starlink service has been gaining traction across the airline sector:

• Alaska Airlines signed a similar agreement last year³.
• United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, and Air France already use Starlink’s satellite internet.
• Delta and JetBlue have partnered with Amazon’s Leo service⁴.

Financial impact and IPO prospects

Starlink’s massive constellation—over 10,000 satellites—positions it as a leading provider in the market. SpaceX’s connectivity unit, which includes Starlink, generated $11.4 billion in revenue last year, accounting for 61 % of the company’s total sales⁵.

SpaceX is preparing for a potential public offering, which could occur as early as next month⁶. While Starlink’s success may bolster the IPO, SpaceX itself reported a loss of nearly $5 billion in 2025⁷.

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Footnotes

1. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/26/american-airlines-spacex-starlink.html ↩

2. https://www.engadget.com/transportation/american-airlines-will-provide-inflight-wi-fi-for-free-starting-next-year-211243870.html ↩

3. https://www.engadget.com/transportation/alaska-air-will-offer-starlink-in-flight-internet-starting-next-year-120023852.html ↩

4. https://news.delta.com/delta-amazon-leo-sign-agreement-deliver-next-era-connected-travel-and-digital-experiences ↩

5. https://www.marketwatch.com/livecoverage/spacex-ipo-filing-prospectus-elon-musk/card/starlink-spacex-crown-jewel-brings-in-more-than-11-billion-in-revenue-ZXgr97KF2t9v2mdlno7e ↩

6. https://www.engadget.com/2178212/the-spacex-ipo-plans-are-now-public/ ↩

7. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/technology/elon-musk-spacex-ipo.html ↩