American Airlines joins the party on free in-flight WiFi — but it won't be using Elon Musk's Starlink

Core Insights - American Airlines has announced the introduction of free in-flight WiFi for its loyalty program members, set to launch in January, with plans to have it available on more planes than any other domestic airline [1][2] - The service will be accessible on approximately 90% of American Airlines' fleet, which consists of nearly 1,000 aircraft, and aims to equip over 500 regional planes with high-speed connectivity by the end of 2025 [2] - American Airlines is the last of the traditional "Big Three" airlines to offer complimentary WiFi, while Delta Air Lines provides it for loyalty members on most domestic flights but charges for long-haul twin-aisle planes [2] Competitive Landscape - United Airlines has partnered with Elon Musk's Starlink to provide free WiFi, with plans to equip its fleet of over 1,000 planes over several years, starting with regional aircraft next month [3] - JetBlue has been offering free WiFi for over a decade, and Hawaiian Airlines was the first US carrier to implement Starlink [3] - The competition in the in-flight WiFi market has intensified due to the introduction of Starlink, prompting airlines to reassess the value of providing free high-speed internet [4] Technology and Performance - Starlink's low-Earth-orbit satellite system offers superior connectivity, achieving speeds of up to 215 megabits per second, which is faster than most home internet services [5] - In contrast, Viasat and Intelsat utilize geostationary satellites, which are positioned higher above Earth and cover specific areas, although Viasat is developing its own higher-capacity satellite constellation [6] - Intelsat has partnered with OneWeb and demonstrated speeds of 150 megabits per second during a test flight, showcasing the competitive capabilities of alternative satellite providers [6] Market Reactions - Eutelsat, the operator of OneWeb, experienced a significant stock price increase of over 500% last month due to concerns about potential disruptions to Starlink access in Ukraine, although it has since stabilized with a 68% increase since the beginning of the year [7]