A new beef between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos could benefit anyone traveling by air, regardless of who comes out on top.
The world’s first trillionaire is throwing down with the Amazon CEO in the battle to bring high-speed wi-fi to commercial flights, and travelers are set to win big. Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Leo satellite networks are emerging as front-runners in the race to make air travel a little more connected.
From The Daily Mail:
This year Starlink, which operates around two-thirds of all satellites in space and is the major driver of revenue for SpaceX, has already signed up 11 new airline customers for in-flight wi-fi provision.
Compare that to 22 new airline customers in 2025 and eight in 2024, according to Valour Consultancy, an aviation intelligence firm.
Amazon, which is still building out its Leo satellite constellation, faces a huge setback after a spectacular Blue Origin rocket failure last month. It has signed up its first customers, securing deals with Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways.
Decius Valmorbida, president of travel at Amadeus, predicted that the fight to provide customers with enticing premium services will result in airline companies “rush[ing] to have its own version of” the high-speed Internet.
One X user recounted his “unreal” experience flying on a plane equipped with Starlink connectivity.
Flew United yesterday on a Starlink‑equipped aircraft and the experience was unreal.
I caught up on X, wrote story ideas, and even played two live chess matches with players in India — at 35,000 feet.
The key detail: it never disconnected. Not even once.@United + @Starlink +… pic.twitter.com/XTnus1puQb
— GreenPlanet 🏌️♂️🏊♂️🇺🇸 (@PlanetGreenest) June 15, 2026
“Flew United yesterday on a Starlink‑equipped aircraft and the experience was unreal. I caught up on X, wrote story ideas, and even played two live chess matches with players in India — at 35,000 feet. The key detail: it never disconnected. Not even once,” the user wrote.
Such increases in speed would be a boon for those who travel for work, want to stay connected with those back home during long flights, and want to entertain small children without having to endure long loading times and buffering videos.
But not all CEOs are in agreement on which company is best suited for their customers.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has reportedly rejected Starlink over concerns about fuel burn due to antennas, as well as general costs.
“Jefferies analysts estimate American Airlines’ Starlink rollout could cost $150 million to $250 million for equipment and installation, based on its fleet, before annual service fees that could exceed $60 million,” The Daily Mail reported.
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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