The boss of Delta Air Lines has no qualms about snubbing Starlink for Amazon’s rival internet service, despite Elon Musk‘s complaints.
“Amazon brings a lot more than just satellite technology,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Bloomberg in an interview on Monday. “They bring great retailing capability and Amazon Prime and video gaming technologies, which Starlink does not have.”
“I think the opportunities, in terms of the improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we’ve ever seen from Starlink, will make a big difference,” he added.
Bastian’s comments come days after Musk disparaged the airline for its decision to partner with Amazon Leo.
Both Starlink and Amazon Leo connect to a constellation of satellites to offer high-speed WiFi from remote areas, like flying in an airplane over the ocean. However, Starlink has launched over 10,000 satellites into orbit, and Amazon’s service has just 300.
Plus, Leo isn’t officially available for customers yet. Its constellation is expected to be much larger when Delta begins installing it on its airplanes in 2028.
Dozens of airlines around the world have struck deals with Starlink to give passengers free WiFi. It’s still being rolled out, but customers include Air France, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines.
Last Wednesday, Musk replied to an X post that suggested Delta chose Amazon because it wanted customers to connect via its own Delta Sync portal.
“SpaceX requires that there be no annoying ‘portal’ to use Starlink,” Musk posted. “Starlink WiFi must just work effortlessly every time, as though you were at home.”
“Delta wanted to make it painful, difficult and expensive for their customers. Hard to see how that is a winning strategy,” he added.
A Delta spokesperson told Business Insider that “the assertion in question is not accurate.” The airline said it chose Amazon’s Leo connectivity service over Starlink for “several reasons,” including the potential for a “broader partnership” beyond just in-flight WiFi.
Bastian’s comments to Bloomberg suggest that the partnership includes in-flight entertainment, with access to Amazon Prime and “gaming technologies.”
Plus, he said Amazon is offering its services at a much lower price than Starlink.
“Of course, we expect Starlink will be warning people that we’re going to go with an inferior product,” Bastian told Bloomberg. “But I’m not too worried about partnering with Amazon.”
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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