The Big Picture:

Starlink is now the go-to in-flight internet for 3 of the "Big Four" U.S.-based airlines, with more than 1,400 commercial aircraft equipped as of year-end 2025. The rollout continues to accelerate in 2026, turning gate-to-gate Wi-Fi into a must-have competitive edge — and delivering a major revenue boost for SpaceX ahead of its potential mid-June IPO. Meanwhile, a deal in the works with the world’s largest carrier by fleet size—American Airlines—could cement SpaceX’s dominance over U.S.-based in-flight Wi-Fi.

Starlink Rollout on Commercial Airlines – Who’s Winning?

United Airlines is leading: 300+ regional jets are already live (as of February 2026), with plans to equip 500+ mainline aircraft by year-end 2026 for a total fleet exceeding 800 Starlink-equipped planes.

Southwest Airlines plans to start free Starlink rollout this summer, targeting 300+ aircraft by late 2026.

Alaska Airlines boasts that it is preparing to offer Starlink Wi-Fi on more departures from Seattle “than any other carrier.” Alaska will start offering Starlink in 2026 and is working to bring the technology to its entire fleet by 2027.

By fleet-size, United Airlines is leading the charge for U.S.-based carriers with Starlink-equipped aircraft. Image: Starbase Observer

International push:

• Lufthansa Group has announced plans to equip its full approximately 850-aircraft fleet starting in the second half of 2026, with completion targeted for 2029 for the entire fleet. This will introduce Starlink to markets in Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, and Austria.

• Qatar Airways already operates the world’s largest widebody Starlink fleet, with 120 aircraft already equipped, including their entire Boeing 777 fleet and their entire Airbus A350 fleet.

• Meanwhile IAG — the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus — has begun its group-wide rollout. British Airways became the first IAG carrier to go live on March 19, 2026 (a Boeing 787-8 flight to Houston, Texas), followed by Aer Lingus, whose first Airbus A330 (EI-EIN) operated the first Starlink-equipped flight on March 29, 2026, from Dublin to New York/JFK. Additional aircraft across the group are scheduled to enter service throughout 2026, with the overall plan covering more than 500 planes.

Southwest Airlines is outfitting 300+ aircraft with free Starlink Wi-Fi later this year. Image: Starbase Observer

The Biggest Loser? Delta Air Lines, the last major U.S. carrier to commit to a satellite internet provider, selected Amazon’s Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) for an initial 500 aircraft starting in 2028 — opting against Starlink. This may put Delta's completed rollout many years into the future, while competitors like United, Southwest, and Alaska move forward with much faster ambitions and potentially fully equipped fleets by the end of this year.

Not Even In the Race? American Airlines is actively in talks with both SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon Leo to upgrade its in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment systems. As the world's largest airline by fleet size, landing this deal could tighten SpaceX's grip over three of the Big Four airlines in the U.S. market.

The Stakes: Impact on SpaceX IPO Valuation.

• Aviation is a high-margin growth engine for Starlink, which drove the majority of SpaceX’s approximately $15–16 billion revenue in 2025.

• Analysts now project Starlink pushing total SpaceX revenue toward $24 billion in 2026, with airline deals adding significant recurring cash flow.

• With a confidential SEC filing submitted this week and a targeted mid-June debut, the aviation momentum helps support SpaceX’s $1.5–1.75 trillion valuation range — reinforcing the case for what could be the largest IPO ever.

An American Airlines deal could be the final major U.S. domino to fall. American, the world’s largest carrier by fleet size, remains the only Big Four airline without a low-Earth orbit Wi-Fi commitment. It is currently in active talks with both Starlink and Amazon’s Leo while rolling out free AT&T-sponsored Wi-Fi (powered by Viasat/Intelsat) across roughly 90% of its fleet starting in early 2026. A decision could come as soon as the next 1–2 months and would further accelerate Starlink’s aviation revenue momentum heading into the IPO.

Starbase Take.

For skeptical SpaceX investors, this isn’t just hype — it’s execution. Every new equipped aircraft turns Starlink's promising ambitions of “future revenue” into today’s cash flows, giving investors concrete proof of scale as SpaceX prepares to go public later this year. We’ll keep watching from Starbase. The skies just became a lot more valuable.