Delta tests Starlink satellite internet technology

According to BusinessInsiderCEO Ed Bastian said Delta has held talks with Starlink – SpaceX’s broadband satellite internet service – and conducted an exploratory test of the internet technology on board.

Delta now uses satellite internet service from Viasat on its flights Reuters

Earlier in June 2021, Vice President Jonathan Hofeller of Starlink revealed the company is in talks with several airlines about providing internet connectivity on board – a service some other companies already offer airlines.

In 2018, in an interview with Wall Street Journal, Delta CEO said Wi-Fi should be provided free of charge on board. By 2019, Delta introduced a pilot program Wi-Fi access Free for 2 weeks on select flights. The airline announced in March 2022 that more than 300 of its planes had begun offering Viasat satellite internet, with charges fixed at USD 5 per customer per flight.

Starlink was created to bring internet connectivity to rural communities that have difficulty accessing the internet. However, Starlink also requested in its filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it could also bring Starlink connectivity to vehicles, including planes, ships and large trucks.

It is known that in June 2021, CEO Elon Musk SpaceX’s Starlink said that Starlink is focusing on achieving regulatory certification for its Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft to serve a large number of passengers. It’s not clear how the Starlink satellite internet speed tests on Delta’s flights are.