American Airlines announced on May 28 plans to install SpaceX’s Starlink Ku-band Low Earth Orbit satellite-powered inflight connectivity on more than 500 Airbus narrowbody aircraft. The airline said that new A321XLR and A321neo deliveries have been designated for the Starlink system as part of a broader modernization effort for its Airbus narrowbody fleet. Installation is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027, though financial terms were not disclosed and it remains unclear which variant of the Airbus A320 family will be fitted first.
American becomes the fourth major U.S. carrier to adopt Starlink, joining United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which are implementing it across their entire fleets, and Southwest Airlines, which is using it on part of its fleet. In contrast, JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines have chosen Amazon’s forthcoming Ka-band Low Earth Orbit satellite-supported inflight connectivity solution for portions of their fleets.
Earlier this year, American began a phased rollout of free inflight Wi-Fi across its network. The airline stated that Starlink “will enable seamless streaming, browsing and real-time communication capabilities” for passengers traveling on domestic and short-haul international routes.
The decision impacts current service providers Viasat and Intelsat-now-SES, whose geostationary satellite-based systems are presently installed on American’s Airbus narrowbodies. SES’s multi-orbit solution is used on regional jets while Panasonic’s Ku-band GEO system and Viasat Ka serve widebody aircraft. Viasat is preparing to support multi-orbit solutions through partnerships with Telesat but has not confirmed if American will participate in this offering.
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want,” said Heather Garboden, chief customer officer at American Airlines. “The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.”
