# American Airlines Expands Starlink to All Mainline Aircraft

> American Airlines to install SpaceX's Starlink on all mainline jets by early 2027.
- Title: American Airlines Expands Starlink to All Mainline Aircraft
- Summary: American Airlines to install SpaceX's Starlink on all mainline jets by early 2027. American Airlines will add Starlink Wi-Fi to all narrowbody and widebody…
- Keywords: american airlines, starlink, space x, inflight wi-fi, airbus, boeing, narrowbody aircraft, widebody aircraft, spacex, airbus aircraft, technology, American
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/news/american-airlines-will-switch-to-starlink-for-now-but-only-on-airbus-narrowbodies
- Author: Rob Pegoraro
- Published: 2026-10-08T19:14:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: american airlines, starlink, space x, inflight wi-fi, airbus, boeing, narrowbody aircraft, widebody aircraft, spacex, airbus aircraft, technology
## American Airlines Announces Starlink Expansion
American Airlines announced it will put Starlink on all narrowbody and widebody planes starting early 2027.
## First Installations in Early 2027
The first installations of Starlink will happen in early 2027, but the airline hasn't specified when the project will be completed.
## Starlink Coverage for Airbus Fleet
American Airlines will add Starlink to over 47% of its current mainline fleet, including new Airbus A321XLR and A321neo deliveries.
## Boeing Fleet Mixed with Existing Systems
American Airlines' Boeing jets will have a mix of Intelsat, Viasat, and Panasonic systems for Wi-Fi, with some requiring payment.
## Starlink vs. Traditional Satellite Wi-Fi
Starlink provides faster speeds and lower latency than traditional geostationary satellite Wi-Fi systems.
## Starlink Performance Metrics
Ookla tests show Starlink delivers median downloads of 223.14Mbps and uploads of 32.31Mbps on American Airlines flights.
## Regional Jet Coverage
American Airlines has 572 regional jets, with most using Intelsat systems that connect to geostationary and lower orbit satellites.
## Starlink Login Process
American Airlines will use Starlink's login process tied to its AAdvantage frequent-flyer program for seamless access.
## Elon Musk's Starlink Critique
Elon Musk criticized Delta Airlines for signing up with Amazon's Leo satellite broadband service instead of Starlink.
## Starlink Rollout Timeline
American Airlines plans to complete Starlink rollout on Airbus aircraft by early 2027, but hasn't specified when Boeing planes will switch.
## Starlink on Boeing Widebodies
American Airlines' Boeing widebodies will use Panasonic systems for Wi-Fi, requiring passengers to pay for internet access.
## Starlink Adoption by Airlines
Starlink is being adopted by airlines including Air France, Alaska Airlines, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines.
## Key takeaway

American Airlines will add Starlink Wi-Fi to all narrowbody and widebody aircraft starting early 2027, but passengers on Boeing planes may still need to pay for internet.