Delta Air Lines Falls Behind United and American

Delta Air Lines is consistently rated as one of, if not the top, airline in the United States. However, some recent events have left it behind the competition in a pretty significant category.

In recent years, Internet connectivity on flights has become vitally important for customers, especially as entertainment streaming becomes popularized. This is especially important for airlines looking to cater to more high-end customers.

As carriers across the country look to bolster their Internet connectivity on flights, it looks like United Airlines and American Airlines have taken a significant step ahead of Delta in that race.

United and American Partner With Starlink

As the race for the fastest Internet in the air continues, both United and American have partnered with SpaceX's satellite Internet service to offer the highest Internet speeds possible to their passengers.

United is already well on its way to equipping its fleet with Starlink, as the airline reported in February that it has already equipped over 300 aircraft, including the majority of its regional aircraft. The airline added that it is expecting to have 800 of its aircraft equipped with the system by the end of this year, with fleet-wide connectivity coming in 2027.

American, meanwhile, announced on Tuesday that it planned to outfit more than 500 of its narrow-body aircraft with Starlink starting in 2027.

“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want,” American Airlines Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden said in a statement. “The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.”

Delta Falls Behind

While American and United are partnering with Starlink, Delta declined to take part in a partnership with SpaceX's satellite internet service, instead opting to use Amazon’s LEO service. While there are some advantages to Delta using Amazon's LEO service, there is a significant downside: time.

While United already has hundreds of planes equipped with Starlink and American is expecting to have 500 aircraft equipped with the service by 2027, Delta will not be able to offer the LEO service to its customers until 2028. Even then, it will only be available to about half of its fleet.

Needless to say, it's pretty clear that Delta is falling behind in a key category by failing as United and American have gained a step in the ever-competitive race between the domestic carriers in the United States.

source https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/delta-air-lines-falls-behind-united-and-american