Delta CEO Ed Bastian defended the airline's decision to partner with Amazon Leo over Elon Musk's Starlink for in-flight WiFi in a Bloomberg interview on Monday, telling Bloomberg that “Amazon brings a lot more than just satellite technology. They bring great retailing capability and Amazon Prime and video gaming technologies, which Starlink does not have.” Bastian also cited “improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we've ever seen from Starlink” as a major factor, with a Delta spokesperson adding that the partnership extends beyond just in-flight WiFi to a “broader partnership.” The choice is notable given that Starlink has launched over 10,000 satellites versus Amazon Leo's 300, with Leo not yet officially available to customers and Delta's installation not expected until 2028, while Starlink already has partnerships with Air France, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines.
