Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian is defending the carrier’s decision to choose Amazon Leo over Starlink, arguing that Amazon brings more to the table than just satellite internet and that the price point was more attractive. That does not fully resolve the Starlink question, but it does make Delta’s logic easier to understand.
Delta CEO Defends Amazon Leo Over Starlink, Citing Price And Partnership Upside
Delta Air Lines raised eyebrows when it chose Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite network, over Starlink for its next-generation onboard Wi-Fi.
The decision was especially notable because Starlink is already proven in commercial aviation. United, Alaska, Hawaiian, Qatar Airways, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, and others have all moved toward Starlink or announced plans to use it. United, in particular, is moving quickly and expects to outfit its fleet with Starlink before Delta even begins installing Amazon Leo on its aircraft in 2028.
That makes Delta’s choice look risky. But CEO Ed Bastian is now offering a more complete defense of the Amazon decision, and his explanation (not that you would expect anything less) suggests a deeper in-flight-entertainment relationship with Amazon is coming.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Bastian argued that Amazon is offering more than just satellite connectivity:
“Amazon brings a lot more than just satellite technology. They bring great retailing capability and Amazon Prime and video gaming technologies, which Starlink does not have.”
He also pointed to price:
“I think the opportunities, in terms of the improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we’ve ever seen from Starlink, will make a big difference.”
And Bastian brushed off the idea that Delta should worry about Starlink warning customers that Delta chose an inferior product:
“Of course, we expect Starlink will be warning people that we’re going to go with an inferior product. But I’m not too worried about partnering with Amazon.”
Indeed, Elon Musk has already made that charge repeatedly.
This Was Never Just About Wi-Fi Speed
A few days ago, Musk suggested the issue was Delta’s insistence on routing passengers through its Delta Sync portal. Musk framed that as Delta wanting to make the process more annoying and expensive for customers.
> Read More: Delta Air Lines Passed On Starlink For A Reason More Valuable Than Wi-Fi
I still think Musk’s jab should be taken with the appropriate truckload of salt. Delta has been one of the leaders in free onboard Wi-Fi and I do not buy the idea that Delta’s goal is to make internet access painful for passengers.
But Musk is not totally wrong.
The portal matters because the customer relationship matters. Delta wants to control the digital environment onboard not just provide internet. It wants passengers logging into Delta Sync, engaging with SkyMiles, seeing targeted offers, consuming content, and creating data Delta can use and monetize.
That is central to modern airline economics. So when Bastian talks about Amazon Prime, video gaming technologies, retailing capability, and a broader partnership, I hear a very different explanation from “we picked cheaper Wi-Fi.”
Amazon May Be The Better Partner, Even If Starlink Is The Better Product Today
Starlink is clearly the more proven inflight internet product today. It has more satellites in orbit, more airline customers, and real-world performance that passengers can already judge. Amazon Leo is still ramping up and is not yet a fully mature consumer product in the same way.
That is the risk for Delta.
If United passengers are enjoying fast, simple, free Starlink across the fleet before Delta even begins installing Amazon Leo, Delta will have a real competitive problem. Passengers do not care about backend partnership strategy if the Wi-Fi is slow, spotty, or late.
But that does not automatically mean Delta made a bad decision.
If Amazon is offering Delta a much better price, deeper integration with Prime, gaming, retail, entertainment, advertising, loyalty, and data, then Delta may have decided that Starlink’s technical lead was not worth surrendering control or paying a premium.
That may be right.
Or it may turn out to be a very expensive bet if Amazon Leo is delayed, underwhelming, or noticeably inferior to Starlink. But Bastian is correct that Amazon tends to do things well.
The Timeline Is Still The Weak Point
Delta will not start installing Amazon Leo until 2028. Meanwhile, United is aggressively rolling out Starlink and may have next-generation connectivity across its entire fleet before Delta begins its Amazon Leo rollout in earnest.
While Delta offers decent complimentary Wi-Fi already, the difference between Starlink and Viasat is night and day and many Delta transpacific flights do not even have functional Wi-Fi right now.
Delta has spent years cultivating a premium image and was ahead of United and American in offering free Wi-Fi. But if United leapfrogs Delta on onboard connectivity, Delta may find itself on the defensive.
And once passengers experience fast, seamless, low-latency Wi-Fi, anything else becomes just annoying.
CONCLUSION
Ed Bastian’s defense of Amazon Leo makes sense in one important way: Delta is choosing a broader digital partner, not just a Wi-Fi provider.
Amazon brings retailing, Prime, gaming, entertainment, advertising potential, and likely a lower price point. For an airline as focused on monetizing loyalty and customer data as Delta, that matters.
But the risk remains obvious. Starlink works today. Amazon Leo still has to prove itself in commercial aviation. United is moving quickly, while Delta is waiting until 2028 to begin installations.
So I understand Delta’s logic more after Bastian’s comments: this may not be a mistake in terms of long-term strategy.
But if United has fast, free, seamless Starlink across its fleet while Delta is still waiting for Amazon Leo, passengers may become more impatient than Delta anticipates.
image: Delta
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