Delta and Amazon partner to transform in-flight connectivity for business travel
Delta Air Lines and Amazon have signed a long-term agreement to introduce high-speed, low-latency satellite connectivity across Delta’s fleet, marking a significant step towards more connected and personalised business travel experiences.
For UK-based business travellers, this development signals a future where in-flight connectivity increasingly mirrors the office environment, enabling seamless productivity, real-time communication and faster transfer of large files while travelling internationally.
The agreement will see Delta deploy Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, Amazon Leo, across its aircraft, with an initial rollout to 500 planes beginning in 2028. The technology promises high-speed, reliable internet capable of supporting streaming, messaging and business-critical tasks throughout the journey, both domestically and on international routes.
A key advantage of Amazon Leo is its significantly enhanced upload capacity, allowing passengers to send presentations, large documents and other business files in real time rather than waiting until landing. This addresses a long-standing challenge for business travel, where upload speeds have historically lagged behind download performance.
Ed Bastian, Chief Executive Officer of Delta Air Lines, said:
“Delta’s future is global. This agreement gives us the fastest and most cost-effective technology available to better connect the world today, and it deepens our work with a global leader that shares our ambition to build what’s next - creating even stronger human connection for our people and our customers for years to come.”
The partnership builds on Delta’s existing relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS), with plans to integrate AWS, Amazon Leo and artificial intelligence to create a more connected and personalised end-to-end travel experience. This includes enhancements to Delta Sync Wi-Fi and onboard digital platforms, enabling a more tailored experience for passengers.
Andy Jassy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amazon, said:
“We’ve designed Leo to provide high-speed internet to the billions of people on Earth without reliable connectivity, and this agreement with Delta is a great example of the impact and scale of the technology - bringing even faster in-flight Wi-Fi to tens of millions of passengers who fly Delta every year.”
Beyond connectivity, the collaboration reflects a broader shift in the aviation sector towards fully integrated digital travel ecosystems, where connectivity, entertainment and customer service tools are seamlessly combined to enhance the passenger journey from booking through to arrival.
Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, said
“For UK-based business travellers, the ability to work effectively in the air is becoming just as important as being connected on the ground. Advances like this will help turn travel time into productive time, enabling professionals to stay in touch with colleagues, send critical documents and maintain momentum while flying long-haul.”
With airlines increasingly investing in next-generation connectivity infrastructure, developments such as this highlight how business travel is evolving to meet growing expectations for constant, high-quality digital access wherever work takes travellers.
If you would like to understand how these developments could impact your business travel programme, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.
