CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: Amazon has secured a major in-flight Wi-Fi deal with Delta Air Lines, deepening its push into satellite internet and setting up a direct challenge to Elon Musk's Starlink in the aviation market.

Amazon's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet unit will provide Wi-Fi on 500 Delta planes starting in 2028, marking its second major airline partnership as it ramps up satellite launches and expands its network.

The agreement intensifies competition in the fast-growing in-flight connectivity market, where airlines are increasingly turning to low-orbit satellite constellations for faster and more reliable service. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, currently leads the field with a far larger satellite network and global coverage.

Amazon signed its first such deal last year with JetBlue, which plans to roll out the service on part of its fleet starting in 2027.

Meanwhile, airlines have been rapidly adopting Starlink. Southwest Airlines announced a deal last month, while United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines have also partnered with the SpaceX service.

Amazon will install its LEO terminals on new Delta aircraft, with service initially available on flights within the continental United States, said Ranjan Goswami, Delta's chief marketing and product officer. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Amazon has committed at least US$10 billion to build out its satellite internet network for consumers and businesses. It has launched 214 satellites since April 2025 and plans to accelerate deployment with more than 20 launches over the next year, said Chris Weber, vice president of the LEO business.

The company has been testing the service with businesses and is "months away" from starting commercial operations, Weber said, adding that rollout will begin in select regions and expand as more satellites come online.

Delta currently uses satellite services from Viasat and Hughes across its roughly 1,200 aircraft to offer Wi-Fi to passengers enrolled in its SkyMiles program, which has about 163 million users.

Goswami said Delta chose Amazon's service in part because of its existing relationship with Amazon Web Services, the company's cloud computing arm.

Amazon has about 100 launches contracted to deploy its satellite constellation, including agreements with Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, as well as launches aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX has deployed more than 10,000 satellites since 2019, making it the world's largest satellite operator. Its rapid expansion has been aided by its reusable Falcon 9 rockets, giving it a significant edge in the satellite internet race.

Amazon has asked U.S. regulators for a two-year extension to a July 2026 deadline to deploy half of its planned 3,200 satellites, drawing criticism from SpaceX over the pace of its rollout.

"We're doing everything in our control to get the constellation deployed," Weber said.