American Airlines will install Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi on more than 500 Airbus aircraft beginning in the first quarter of 2027, giving SpaceX another major airline customer as US carriers race to improve onboard connectivity.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier said on May 26, 2026, that the Starlink installations will cover its Airbus narrowbody fleet, including new Airbus A321XLR and A321neo deliveries. American said the service will be available free to AAdvantage members.
Starlink uses SpaceX’s low-Earth-orbit satellite network to provide lower-latency broadband than older geostationary satellite systems. American said the system can support streaming, video calls, gaming and other high-bandwidth uses in flight.
The agreement marks a notable turn in American’s connectivity strategy. In December 2025, American CEO Robert Isom said the airline had been in discussions with Amazon about using Amazon Leo, the low-Earth-orbit satellite network formerly known as Project Kuiper, for in-flight Wi-Fi. At the time, American had not said whether Amazon Leo would replace or supplement its existing Wi-Fi providers.
American’s Starlink announcement does not cover the airline’s entire fleet. The airline said the affecded aircraft will serve domestic and short-haul international routes. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
American already offers free high-speed Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members on most domestic flights and select international flights through a separate AT&T-sponsored program. The airline’s existing connectivity providers include Viasat and SES.
The Starlink deal gives American a new path for aircraft that have not yet received the latest generation of onboard connectivity. It also puts the airline more firmly into a fast-moving competitive field that now includes several major Starlink customers.
United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Emirates have also signed Starlink agreements. United has been one of Starlink’s most visible airline customers, with plans to install the system across a large portion of its fleet.
American’s decision leaves Amazon Leo without the airline win that appeared possible after Isom’s December comments. Amazon has continued building out its own low-Earth-orbit satellite network, but Starlink has moved faster in commercial aviation, winning several airline deals while carriers seek faster and more reliable onboard internet.
American did not say whether it could expand Starlink to additional aircraft types in the future. The airline also did not say how the new Starlink-equipped aircraft will fit alongside its current Viasat, SES and other connectivity systems.
