American Airlines is preparing to bring high-speed Starlink satellite internet to its entire mainline fleet, with the airline announcing an expanded agreement with SpaceX that will see more than 1,000 aircraft equipped with the technology from next year.

The deal represents a major expansion of the airline’s original agreement with SpaceX, which covered approximately 500 aircraft when it was announced in May.

Under the revised arrangement, Starlink connectivity will be installed across American Airlines’ entire mainline fleet of more than 1,030 aircraft, including both narrowbody and widebody planes.

The rollout will use Starlink’s Performance Aero Terminal, which is designed to deliver internet speeds of up to 1Gbps through SpaceX’s network of low-Earth-orbit satellites.
For passengers, the technology promises a significant improvement over traditional in-flight Wi-Fi systems, with faster connections and more reliable performance during flights.

The increased bandwidth could allow travellers to stream high-definition video, participate in video calls, browse the internet and use cloud-based applications with fewer interruptions.

American Airlines carries more than 165 million passengers annually including passengers from Australia to the US every day, making the expanded agreement one of the largest commitments to Starlink’s aviation internet service.

The announcement also signals a shift in the airline’s connectivity strategy.

Last year, American Airlines announced a partnership with AT&T aimed at providing high-speed Wi-Fi access to members of its AAdvantage loyalty program.

The latest agreement suggests the airline is now placing greater emphasis on satellite-based connectivity as it looks to improve the passenger experience across its domestic and international network.

For SpaceX, the expanded American Airlines deal represents another significant win as competition intensifies between satellite internet providers targeting the aviation industry.

Starlink has already established a strong presence in commercial aviation, including a major agreement with United Airlines.

According to the latest figures, 724 United Airlines aircraft are already equipped with Starlink connectivity, representing approximately 41 per cent of the carrier’s fleet.

The company has also secured agreements with 48 airlines worldwide, strengthening its position in the growing market for high-speed in-flight internet.

However, Starlink is facing increasing competition from Amazon’s Leo satellite broadband network.

Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines selected Amazon Leo as its satellite connectivity partner, although the rollout is not expected to begin until 2028.

Starlink’s expanding airline partnerships could give SpaceX an advantage as carriers increasingly look to replace older airborne internet systems with faster satellite technology.

For American Airlines passengers, the rollout beginning in 2027 could mean a substantial improvement in onboard connectivity, particularly on longer flights where reliable internet access has traditionally been difficult to deliver.

The airline has not yet detailed how quickly the installation program will be completed across its entire fleet.