Delta Air Lines is publicly pushing back against claims made by Elon Musk over why the airline chose Amazon’s LEO service instead of SpaceX Starlink.
The exchange started after Musk criticized Delta on X, claiming the airline passed on Starlink because it wanted a restrictive customer experience tied to its Delta Sync portal and SkyMiles loyalty program.
Musk wrote, “Delta wanted to make it painful, difficult, and expensive for their customers,” adding that Starlink’s philosophy is that onboard Wi-Fi should “just work effortlessly every time.”
However, Delta says that characterization is simply wrong. In a statement to PC Mag the airline said, “The assertion in question is not accurate. Incorporating Delta Sync with Starlink would have been permitted under SpaceX’s in-flight Wi-Fi agreement.”
Delta Defends Amazon LEO Partnership
Delta also defended its decision to partner with Amazon’s low-Earth orbit satellite network, even though the service is still years away from deployment on its fleet. According to the airline, the agreement goes beyond just onboard internet speeds, referring to their shared ambition to “build what’s next,” whatever that means.
“This agreement gives us the fastest and most cost-effective technology available to better connect the world today, and it deepens our work with a global leader that shares our ambition to build what’s next,” Delta said.
ALSO READ: Delta Airlines tested Starlink internet services
Starlink Already Flying While Amazon’s Service Waits
The comments have sparked debate online, particularly because Amazon’s LEO aviation service is not yet operational. Delta currently expects the service to begin appearing on roughly half of its fleet by 2028. Until then, many of its aircraft will continue relying on existing connectivity providers including Viasat and Hughesnet.
If Delta had chosen Starlink instead, they could already be deploying the service on its fleet, which is currently operational and expanding rapidly across the aviation industry. Dozens of airlines have already begun rolling out Starlink-powered Wi-Fi, promoting significantly faster speeds and lower latency compared to traditional satellite systems.
Delta’s Broader Amazon Relationship
Despite Musk’s criticism, Delta appears committed to its long-term strategy with Amazon. The airline already has deep ties with Amazon Web Services, which powers many of Delta’s backend systems, including reservations and customer-facing applications.
Meanwhile, Amazon is continuing to expand Project Kuiper partnerships despite the network still being in development. JetBlue has also announced plans to adopt the service starting in 2027.
Always get the latest - make Drive Tesla your preferred source on Google
Are you buying a Tesla? If you enjoy our content and we helped in your decision, use our referral link to get three months of Full Self-Driving (FSD).Drive Tesla uses affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
