American Airlines will install SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet on more than 500 of its narrow-body Airbus aircraft, including A321neo and the new A321XLR jets. Installations begin in early 2027, and the carrier is billing it as the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky.
The service will be free to AAdvantage loyalty members. American's Boeing fleet, which runs a mix of Viasat and Panasonic, keeps its current providers for now. The airline had been evaluating both Starlink and Amazon's Leo network as recently as March.
The win adds American to a Starlink roster that already includes United, Southwest, Qatar Airways and Lufthansa. It also lands as a tailwind for SpaceX ahead of its planned IPO next month, projected to be the largest in history, since Starlink is the only SpaceX unit generating meaningful revenue.