Airline news
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The gist
American Airlines will bring Starlink to more than 1,000 mainline jets, installing from early 2027.
The Wi-Fi race is now a fleet-wide selling point for long-haul and business travelers.
Background
Airlines are competing on onboard connectivity, and American's move expands a May 2025 plan that covered more than 500 Airbus aircraft to its entire mainline fleet of Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies and widebodies. United has leaned on Starlink for inflight entertainment, adding live TV from DISH and staging onboard events. Separately, aircraft demand remains strong, with lessor Avolon ordering 110 Airbus jets.
How it unfolded
- Oct 8, 2026American Airlines announced Starlink for all mainline aircraft, with installations starting in early 2027 and more than 1,000 jets to be equipped.
- Oct 10, 2026United Airlines added TBS to its DISH-powered onboard streaming lineup on more than 200 planes, about 900 flights per day.
- Oct 12, 2026Avolon ordered 110 new aircraft from Airbus, according to CEO Andy Cronin.
- Oct 13, 2026Delta Air Lines pushed back its Saudi Arabia debut to March 2027 after deadly attacks on Riyadh's main airport.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- American's Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said customers told the airline dependable connectivity makes a meaningful difference in how they spend time in the air, and that Starlink provides a foundation for future innovations.
- Official
- SpaceX's Lauren Dreyer said customers will get fast, reliable internet from gate to gate for streaming, working, or staying in touch.
- Analysts
- Avolon CEO Andy Cronin said demand for new aircraft remains strong and the order strengthens its long-term delivery pipeline, with A330neo and A320neo demand expected to stay strong.