Amazon’s Kuiper Wins 1,200-Plane Delta Contract for 1 Gbps In-Flight Internet
Amazon’s Project Kuiper has secured a 1,200-plane commitment from Delta Air Lines to use its Leo low-Earth-orbit internet service starting in 2028, with antennas supporting up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds. The venture has over 214 satellites in orbit, 100 launch contracts, and plans 20+ launches this year.
1. Delta Signs 1,200-Plane Kuiper Agreement
Amazon’s Project Kuiper has secured a commitment from Delta Air Lines to equip approximately 1,200 planes with Kuiper’s low-Earth orbit internet service beginning in 2028, replacing its existing Viasat and Hughes systems and leveraging Delta’s AWS infrastructure.
2. Satellite Network Capacity and Launch Plans
The Kuiper constellation has launched 214 satellites to date and holds contracts for roughly 100 additional launches. Amazon plans over 20 more missions this year using rockets from Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to deploy its initial block of 3,200 first-generation satellites.
3. Regulatory Hurdles and Competitive Dynamics
Amazon has petitioned the FCC for a two-year extension on its July 2026 deadline to deploy half of its constellation, drawing criticism amid pressure to close the gap with SpaceX’s Starlink. SpaceX’s reusable rocket fleet and thousands of satellites in orbit underscore the competitive challenge facing Kuiper.