It is more than double the number of aircraft the company quoted earlier this year.
American Airlines will equip its entire fleet of mainline aircraft with Starlink Wi-Fi starting next year, promising speeds of up to 1Gbps via the satellite network’s Performance Aero Terminal.
SpaceX had previously signed a contract with American, but in May the number was 500 planes. Today’s announcement more than doubles that, with the American mainline fleet (including all narrowbody and widebody aircraft) totaling more than 1,030.
The commitment means that American more than 165 million annual customers should expect fast and reliable satellite Wi-Fi during a flight, much more than previous methods allowed. American appears to have pivoted from a Wi-Fi strategy that saw it agree to a deal with AT&T last year to bring high-speed Wi-Fi to its AAdvantage loyalty program members.
Despite losing out to Amazon Leo in the battle for Delta’s signature earlier this year, SpaceX and Starlink appear to be winning the broader in-flight satellite Wi-Fi race now. The rollout of the former doesn’t begin until 2028, and Starlink’s deal with American adds to the 724 United Airlines planes already operating its service. This represents around 41 percent of its fleet. Worldwide, Starlink has now partnered with 48 airlines.