Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL) have announced a new multi-year agreement aimed at enhancing in-flight internet connectivity for millions of airline passengers.
The deal will see Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network, known as Amazon Leo, deployed across a significant portion of Delta’s aircraft fleet beginning in 2028.
Under the agreement, Delta plans to install the technology on an initial 500 aircraft, with the goal of providing high-speed, low-latency Wi-Fi to passengers from gate to gate.
The service will be offered free of charge to members of Delta’s SkyMiles loyalty program, consistent with the airline’s current approach to onboard connectivity.
Amazon Leo relies on a constellation of satellites positioned in low Earth orbit, approximately 370 miles above the Earth’s surface. This closer proximity compared to traditional geostationary satellites is designed to reduce latency and improve overall connection speeds.
According to the companies, the system will support download speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second and upload speeds of up to 400 megabits per second on equipped aircraft.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the agreement aligns with the airline’s long-term vision of expanding global connectivity and improving the customer experience. “Delta’s vision is global,” Bastian said.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy noted that the partnership demonstrates the broader potential of satellite-based internet services to deliver reliable connectivity in a range of environments, including air travel.
The announcement builds on an existing relationship between the two companies. Delta has previously adopted Amazon Web Services (AWS) to support various aspects of its operations, including reservation systems and customer-facing applications.
The companies indicated that future collaboration may include integrating AWS, artificial intelligence, and other Amazon technologies into Delta’s broader travel ecosystem.
Shares of Amazon added almost 4% at $208 on the announcement, while Delta shares were up 4% at about $66.