American Airlines to install Starlink on 500+ jets

American Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will equip more than 500 of its narrowbody aircraft with SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, beginning in the first quarter of 2027. The rollout will cover a significant portion of the carrier's domestic and short-haul international fleet, including new Airbus A321neo and A321XLR aircraft as they enter service.

The airline stated that the Starlink system, which utilizes a low Earth orbit satellite network, is expected to support high-bandwidth activities such as video streaming, online gaming, and video calls during flights. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the company did not provide a timeline for completing installations across the entire fleet.

This move is part of a broader industry push to offer faster and more reliable inflight connectivity as airlines compete for customers, particularly premium travelers. Demand for enhanced travel experiences has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. American Airlines currently provides free inflight WiFi to members of its loyalty program on nearly all flights through a partnership with AT&T. The carrier reported a mainline fleet of 1,022 aircraft,...