Delta’s CEO – Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian defended the airline’s decision to partner with Amazon’s Leo connectivity service instead of Starlink, arguing Amazon offers capabilities beyond satellite technology—especially Amazon Prime and gaming—plus improved bandwidth at a
Delta Air Lines is standing firm after a public pushback from Elon Musk—and its CEO is spelling out exactly why.
Ed Bastian. the head of Delta Air Lines. said he has no qualms about snubbing Starlink in favor of Amazon’s rival internet service. despite Musk’s complaints.. In an interview on Monday. Bastian told Bloomberg that “Amazon brings a lot more than just satellite technology.” He pointed to what he described as Amazon’s retailing capability. Amazon Prime. and “video gaming technologies. ” adding that Starlink does not have those.
The choice also comes down to cost and performance. Bastian said “the opportunities, in terms of the improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we’ve ever seen from Starlink, will make a big difference.”
His defense follows comments Musk made only days earlier. disparaging Delta’s decision to partner with Amazon’s Leo connectivity service.. Musk took aim at the airline after it was announced it would work with Amazon rather than Starlink.. He also responded to an X post suggesting the real reason Delta chose Amazon was to steer customers through Amazon’s own Delta Sync portal.
On X. Musk wrote that “SpaceX requires that there be no annoying ‘portal’ to use Starlink. ” adding that “Starlink WiFi must just work effortlessly every time. as though you were at home.” He then criticized Delta’s approach. saying it was meant “to make it painful. difficult and expensive for their customers. ” and concluding. “Hard to see how that is a winning strategy.”
Delta, for its part, disputes the premise.. A Delta spokesperson told Business Insider that “the assertion in question is not accurate.” The airline said it chose Amazon’s Leo connectivity service over Starlink for “several reasons. ” including the potential for a “broader partnership” beyond in-flight WiFi.
Bastian’s version of that “broader partnership” includes entertainment. His comments to Bloomberg indicated the deal would extend into in-flight entertainment, with access to Amazon Prime and “gaming technologies.”
There are also stark differences in how quickly the two satellite networks are scaling.. Both Starlink and Amazon Leo connect to constellations of satellites to offer high-speed WiFi from remote areas. including while flying over the ocean.. But Starlink has already launched over 10,000 satellites into orbit, while Amazon’s constellation has just 300.
Leo is also still not a consumer-ready product. It isn’t officially available for customers yet, and its constellation is expected to be much larger by the time Delta begins installing it on its airplanes in 2028.
Bastian’s confidence in the Amazon partnership was clear even as he acknowledged the competitive response Starlink may offer.. “Of course. we expect Starlink will be warning people that we’re going to go with an inferior product. ” he told Bloomberg.. “But I’m not too worried about partnering with Amazon.”
Delta’s decision also sits inside a wider shift across global aviation.. Dozens of airlines have signed deals with Starlink to provide passengers with free WiFi.. That rollout is ongoing, and customers already include Air France, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines.
One other factor remains in the background of the dispute: SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Delta Air Lines Ed Bastian Amazon Leo Starlink Elon Musk satellite internet in-flight WiFi Amazon Prime gaming technology Delta Sync aviation connectivity