GoKawiilTL;DR Amazon Leo’s new low-profile antenna offers 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds.
Major carriers like Delta and JetBlue have already secured agreements to integrate this hardware.
Despite having a smaller satellite constellation than Starlink, Amazon is leveraging laser links and AWS Edge locations to provide seamless global coverage.
For years, “high-speed” in-flight Wi-Fi has been a bit of a marketing myth. The offers were fine for a sluggish email, but a nightmare for anything else. That is finally set to change as Amazon Leo (formerly known as Project Kuiper) officially unveiled its Aviation Antenna. Offering speeds of up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload, Amazon isn’t just trying to beat the airlines’ current tech; it’s taking a direct shot at SpaceX’s Starlink.
The hardware is designed specifically for the stresses of commercial flight. Measuring just 2.6 inches high, the low-profile antenna uses a full-duplex phased array with no moving parts. For airlines, this is a win for fuel efficiency and maintenance. For passengers, it means gate-to-gate connectivity that doesn’t drop the moment you start taxiing or crossing the Atlantic.
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The 400 Mbps upload speed is perhaps the biggest news here. While Starlink has focused on massive download pipes, Amazon is leveraging its AWS Edge locations and a network of 300 ground gateways to minimize latency. In theory, this makes the cabin a true mobile office where 4K video conferencing and lag-free cloud gaming could finally be viable.
Amazon has already locked in major agreements with Delta and JetBlue. This move reinforces a growing trend in the industry: High-speed internet is transitioning from a paid luxury to a free, loyalty-driven amenity. With Delta already pushing free Wi-Fi via SkyMiles, the addition of Leo’s gigabit hardware could make terrestrial-grade internet a standard expectation for travelers, at least eventually.
Currently, Delta provides Wi-Fi through a prior agreement with T-Mobile. Its agreement with Amazon begins in 2028.
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