Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet division, has pulled far ahead of Amazon’s competing Leo service in the battle to become the default provider of in-flight connectivity for the world’s airlines.
Starlink now holds commitments covering an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 commercial aircraft globally. Amazon’s Leo, by comparison, has secured deals covering roughly 1,300 planes at most, with implementation timelines that trail Starlink’s by a year or more.
The contract scoreboard
Starlink signed 8 new airline customers in 2024. Then 22 in 2025. And 11 more so far in 2026. The roster reads like a who’s who of commercial aviation: United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Lufthansa, and Emirates have all committed to the SpaceX service.
The most recent headline deal came on May 26, 2026, when American Airlines announced that Starlink would provide connectivity on more than 500 narrowbody aircraft starting in the first quarter of 2027.
