American Airlines may be swapping its Wi-Fi provider for something more galactic. The airline has confirmed that it has spoken to Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) about powering its in-flight internet. This could be a huge victory for Jeff Bezos’ satellite project as it would take on Elon Musk’s Starlink in the battle for supremacy at 38,000 feet.
What Happened: Amazon Leo is a contender for the AA’s fleet-wide Wi-Fi upgrade
CEO Robert Isom admitted that the airline is exploring Amazon Leo to provide faster, low-latency broadband to its fleet of over 1,000 aircraft. Securing American Airlines would be a major coup for Amazon.
Here’s the catch: Amazon Leo works the same way as Starlink – with low-Earth satellites – but is way behind in the race. While Starlink has thousands of satellites in operation, Amazon only began launching in April 2025 and currently has about 150 in orbit. Full service is not expected until 2027.
American is already rolling out free Wi-Fi, but there are serious doubts about whether its current provider, Viasat, can handle the future load of hundreds of passengers trying to stream movies while participating in Zoom calls.
Why it matters: A battle for the sky – and why passengers should care
The battle for nationwide internet is intensifying. Starlink has already secured deals with big names like British Airways and Qatar Airways. Amazon Leo, on the other hand, only has JetBlue in its range so far.
For Americans, this is a gamble. Choosing Amazon could mean better prices in the long term and a partnership with a tech giant that wants to prove itself. When you choose Starlink, you now get a proven, working system.
This competition is great news for you as a passenger. This means that the days of slow, expensive and barely functioning Wi-Fi on airplanes are numbered. Whether Bezos or Musk sends the signal, the end goal is an Internet that actually works like it does in your living room.
What’s next: A decision that will take years
Even if American signs a dotted line with Amazon today, you won’t see the service until 2027 at the earliest. The airline is keeping its options open and is talking to Amazon, Starlink and Viasat to see who offers the best deal. The next few months will likely determine whether Amazon can truly challenge Starlink’s lead in the air.
