American Airlines said Tuesday it plans to install Starlink on more than 500 narrow-body Airbus aircraft beginning early next year, the latest carrier to pick the SpaceX unit for inflight Wi-Fi service.
The deal provides more than just financial lift for Starlink, the satellite communications network and the only SpaceX business unit that generates meaningful revenue. It also hands SpaceX a win over the competition — such as Amazon Leo and other legacy providers like Viasat.
Starlink satellites use a low Earth orbit to provide broadband internet for consumers as well as enterprise customers like American Airlines. The company has pursued contracts with airlines and cruise operators with some success. United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa Group, British Airways, and Alaska Airlines (which merged with Hawaiian Airlines) have equipped some aircraft with Starlink, according to SpaceX’s IPO registration filing that was released last week.
American Airlines is the latest, although not all of its aircraft will get the Starlink upgrade. The airline’s new Airbus A321XLR and A320neo aircraft will get Starlink; its Boeing aircraft are not part of this agreement.
Still, it provides another tailwind for SpaceX in the lead up to its highly anticipated IPO next month, which is projected to be the largest in history.