SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service is now installed on more than 1,400 commercial aircraft, and more than 40 airlines worldwide have announced deals to fit it, according to an AOL report published on 5 October that cites Starlink’s 2025 Progress Report, the annual document SpaceX publishes alongside its Starlink aviation pages. The rollout spilled into a public fight in late September, when Elon Musk said Delta Air Lines — the US carrier that has picked Amazon Leo instead — would lose customers over the choice, according to TradingView, which carried an article originally published by Stocktwits.
“[Delta] will lose a lot of customers.”
— Elon Musk, replying to a post about Starlink’s spread across United’s fleet, as quoted by TradingView
Key facts
- United Airlines had equipped more than 600 aircraft, roughly 36% of its fleet, according to the X post Musk responded to, cited by TradingView; the airline expects fleetwide coverage by the end of 2027.
- Delta plans to introduce Amazon Leo-powered WiFi from 2028, TradingView reports. JetBlue Airways has also signed up for Amazon Leo, according to AOL.
- Starlink operates through a constellation of more than 11,000 satellites, AOL says, while Amazon Leo has launched about 400.
Free to fly with — but someone is paying
Every airline that offers Starlink does so free of charge, AOL says, although some require passengers to join their loyalty programmes first, making membership rather than money the price of access.
The buyer is the operator or its owner. Private equity firm Indigo Partners announced a deal to fit Starlink on 1,000 aircraft across five airlines it backs: Cebu Pacific, Frontier Airlines, Mexico’s Volaris, Hungary’s Wizz Air and South America’s JetSMART, per AOL.
Neither AOL nor TradingView discloses what SpaceX charges an airline per aircraft, how those terms compare with Amazon Leo’s or Viasat’s, or whether carriers expect to recover the outlay through fares. The only cost pressure TradingView quantifies is fuel.
Why it matters
TradingView reports that the contrasting technology choices have put Delta and United under greater scrutiny as airlines compete on passenger experience beyond fares and schedules, and that Musk was replying to a post highlighting Starlink’s growing availability on United aircraft — the same trend visible in the pace of United’s installations.
In the same week, TradingView says, BMO Capital analyst Michael Goldie cut his price target on Delta to $100 from $105 while keeping an Outperform rating, pointing to persistent conflict in the Middle East pushing jet fuel toward $4.30–$4.50 per gallon. Delta had still gained 21% so far this year, outpacing its peers, and retail sentiment on Stocktwits had improved to bullish. SpaceX, meanwhile, faces investor scrutiny of Starlink’s parent.
How to find out if your flight has Starlink
For most airlines, passengers are told during booking, in pre-flight communications or through the carrier’s app, AOL reports — the route taken by United’s own Starlink flight tracker. AOL also points to Starlink Flights, a free third-party tool that matches aircraft tail numbers to installed hardware using airline announcements, public records, flight-tracking data and passenger reports; travellers can look up their aircraft’s tail number on FlightRadar24 and check it there.
Who is installing it, and when
The schedules AOL lists stretch from this year into 2029. Carriers also publish their own timelines, as Lufthansa Group does in its newsroom.
| Airline | Status | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Air France | Announced September 2024 for Flying Blue members; fleet installation began 2025 | Complete by end of 2026 |
| Emirates | First Starlink-equipped A380 flew April 2026 | All 232 in-service aircraft by mid-2027 |
| British Airways | On select aircraft as of July 2026, adding more gradually | Not stated |
| Aer Lingus | Flying since March 2026, long-haul fleet first | Not stated |
| airBaltic | First European adopter, early 2025, on its Airbus A220s | In service |
| Alaska Airlines | Announced August 2025 after merging with Hawaiian, which AOL calls the first major carrier to offer Starlink; regional fleet done, 737 mainline jets under way | 787s also due |
| American Airlines | Said in May 2026 it will fit more than 500 narrowbody planes | Installations start early 2027 |
| Frontier Airlines | Announced July | First Starlink flight early 2027 |
| Copa Airlines | Launched July 2026 | Full fleet by 2027 |
| Korean Air | Announced December; Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets prioritised; earliest service as early as Q3 2026 | Fleetwide after Asiana integration, end of 2027 |
| Air New Zealand | Working with Starlink since 2023; two domestic aircraft fitted June 2025, described then as a test phase | Not stated |
The rival systems
AOL reports that Amazon Leo works similarly to Starlink, and that Viasat has been a common airline pick for over a decade using fewer, higher-capacity satellites.
TradingView adds that industry-wide turbulence intensified this year because of higher fuel expenses, aircraft delivery delays and disruption tied to the prolonged US–Iran conflict, squeezing margins across the airline industry, particularly for carriers that rely on lower-priced ticket sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast was Starlink’s in-flight WiFi when it was tested?
Business Insider tested the service on Qatar Airways’ first Starlink-equipped flight in October 2024, according to AOL’s report. The connection peaked at 215 megabits per second, which AOL said was more than enough for a lag-free video call and faster than many cable-based internet services.
Can third-party Starlink flight trackers be trusted?
AOL describes free tools such as Starlink Flights as helpful guides rather than guarantees. The site is not associated with Elon Musk or the carriers, and AOL notes that aircraft swaps and data inaccuracies can throw the results off, so travellers should cross-check with the airline.
When will Lufthansa Group airlines get Starlink?
Lufthansa announced its Starlink deal in January and introduction is set to begin in the second half of 2026, with all Lufthansa Group planes equipped by 2029, AOL reports. The company said access would be free for all status customers and Travel ID users, covering subsidiaries including Air Dolomiti, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Discover and Edelweiss Air.
Does Starlink’s low-earth-orbit design have any drawbacks?
AOL reports that Starlink’s satellites sit in low-earth orbit, which means faster internet speeds, but that they can also disrupt astronomy. By contrast, AOL says Viasat relies on fewer high-capacity satellites in geostationary orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth, which have higher latency than Starlink.
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