Key facts
- Elon Musk has renewed his public dispute with Delta Air Lines over its choice of in-flight Wi-Fi provider.
- Delta selected Amazon's Project Kuiper (Leo) over SpaceX's Starlink, a decision Musk warned would lead to customer loss.
- Musk stated on X that Delta's choice would "get much worse" for the airline.
- Delta CEO Ed Bastian previously cited Amazon Leo's lower price and better bandwidth as key factors in the decision.
- Starlink has a significant lead in satellite numbers and airline partnerships compared to Amazon Leo.
- Some social media users have indicated a preference for airlines offering Starlink, potentially impacting Delta's bookings.
Elon Musk has reignited his public feud with Delta Air Lines, warning the carrier will suffer customer losses after it opted for Amazon's rival satellite internet service, Leo, over SpaceX's Starlink. Musk's latest comments on X come after some users reported choosing United Airlines, which offers Starlink, over Delta.
Delta announced its partnership with Amazon Leo in May, a decision CEO Ed Bastian justified by citing Leo's lower price point and improved bandwidth compared to Starlink. Amazon Leo, which uses a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, aims to launch over 3,000 satellites and has secured deals with JetBlue and Delta. In contrast, SpaceX's Starlink already operates over 10,000 satellites and has partnerships with 43 airlines.
While the extent of customers actively switching from Delta due to Wi-Fi choice is unconfirmed, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell noted that one unnamed airline reported customers seeking layovers to ensure access to Starlink. United Airlines has equipped over 400 of its planes with Starlink, with plans to expand significantly, while American Airlines is set to introduce the service next year.
This is not the first time Musk has publicly criticized an airline's decision regarding Starlink. He previously engaged in a public dispute with Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, who expressed concerns about Starlink's potential impact on fuel costs due to increased drag.