Elon Musk has criticized Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian after reports suggested the carrier’s decision to choose Amazon Leo rather than Starlink for its next phase of in-flight connectivity may have been influenced partly by concerns about being associated with Musk.
Delta announced in March that it plans to install Amazon Leo satellite Wi-Fi across an initial 500 aircraft beginning in 2028. At the time, Bastian described the agreement as giving Delta fast and cost-effective technology for improving onboard connectivity. Amazon Leo, like Starlink, is designed to provide high-speed internet through a constellation of low-Earth-orbit satellites, but the service has not yet entered commercial operation.
The latest dispute began after aviation reports circulated alleged comments from Bastian about not wanting Delta tied to Musk. The source material does not independently confirm those comments. Musk nevertheless responded publicly on X, writing that Bastian would “lose his job over this” and separately predicting that Delta would lose customers because of the decision.
Delta is one of the few major airlines to have selected Amazon Leo for future onboard connectivity. JetBlue has also chosen the system, while a growing list of international carriers has adopted Starlink. The timing leaves Delta on a different rollout schedule from competitors already adding high-speed satellite Wi-Fi to their fleets.
United Airlines has been expanding Starlink across its aircraft, including widebody international flights, as carriers increasingly compete on free and reliable onboard internet. Delta’s Amazon Leo installation is not scheduled to begin until 2028, making execution of the service an important part of the airline’s future passenger experience strategy.
Demand for better connectivity has become a significant competitive factor in aviation as passengers increasingly expect fast Wi-Fi for messaging, entertainment and work. Delta’s decision therefore puts two rival satellite systems – and two different deployment timelines – into direct competition for airline customers.
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