EL7.AI
StocksMedium•23 October 2026•
4 min read

American Airlines to Expand Starlink to More Than 1,000 Aircraft Starting in 2027

Key Facts

1American will begin installing Starlink in early 2027 on more than 1,000 aircraft in its mainline fleet.
2The covered mainline fleet exceeds 1,030 aircraft, including 500 narrowbody Airbus aircraft, more than 400 narrowbody Boeing aircraft and more than 130 widebody Boeing aircraft.
3American’s third-quarter 2026 revenue was about $16.3 billion, up 19.3% year over year, with an adjusted loss of $182 million.
4Quarterly fuel expenses rose $1.9 billion, or 67.5%, year over year.
5American Airlines shares closed at $12.6 on October 22, 2026.

American Airlines Chief Executive Robert Isom said the company would provide customers with Starlink connectivity, adding that travelers want the best service available. In an interview with CNBC reported by Tesla North, he said customers “want connectivity and demand it,” and that the company would ensure they get “the best product in the market, and that means Starlink.” His comments followed the company’s announcement on October 8 that it was expanding its plan to cover its entire mainline fleet. Installation is due to begin in early 2027 on more than 1,000 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The plan has thus moved from a limited scope to a program covering the company’s entire mainline fleet.

The covered fleet includes more than 1,030 aircraft, according to the composition published by the company in its announcement. These include 500 narrowbody Airbus aircraft, more than 400 narrowbody Boeing aircraft and more than 130 widebody Boeing aircraft. Reuters said the expansion adds more than 530 Boeing aircraft to the previous plan, which covered more than 500 Airbus aircraft. The company has not disclosed the financial terms of the deal, according to Reuters. American announced its initial plan in May to install Starlink on more than 500 Airbus aircraft, before expanding it in October to cover its entire mainline fleet.

American says Starlink’s “Performance Aero Terminal” unit can provide speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second per unit. The company links the connectivity to uses travelers may need during a flight, from streaming shows and gaming to working and shopping online. Heather Garboden, the company’s chief customer officer, said reliable connectivity allows travelers to “watch their favorite show live, play games or collaborate in real time on an important business deal.” She added that options include browsing social media and shopping online. According to the company, more than 165 million passengers travel on its mainline aircraft each year, and it expects to take delivery of more than 300 new mainline aircraft in the coming years.

The expansion comes as the company reported quarterly revenue of $16.3 billion in the third quarter of 2026, up 19.3% year over year and above the high end of its previous guidance range, according to its results. But the company posted an adjusted loss of $182 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, over the same period. Fuel costs weighed on results, with quarterly expenses rising $1.9 billion, or 67.5%, from a year earlier. By contrast, premium revenue rose 22.9% and main cabin revenue increased 19.5% year over year. Managed corporate travel revenue also rose 27.6%, the company said.

The expansion plan coincides with debate over restrictions on Starshield, the military version of Starlink, in Ukraine. The Associated Press quoted an adviser to the Ukrainian president as saying the restrictions remained in place on Friday, October 23, while Ukrainian commanders reported losing drones and missions being disrupted. A European official familiar with the matter told the agency that the speed cap remained at about 100 miles per hour, or 160 kilometers per hour, and that Ukraine had not received a clear formal explanation of who ordered the restrictions or why. Elon Musk distinguished between the two systems, saying Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, while Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX and restricted to civilian or defensive use. He added that the U.S. armed forces and the president decide on any restrictions on Starshield’s speed or use.

In its third-quarter results, American lowered its full-year outlook and now expects an adjusted loss of between $1.00 and $1.60 per share in 2026, according to Reuters. Its previous forecast was for a profit of 65 cents to a loss of 65 cents per share. Reuters placed the revision within broader pressure on U.S. airlines, as higher ticket prices failed to fully offset the jump in fuel prices, prompting carriers to be cautious about earnings and capacity growth. The U.S. passenger airline index fell about 3% from the start of 2026 through October 22, compared with gains of more than 13% for the S&P 500. In trading on October 22, American Airlines shares closed at $12.6, according to EL7 data.