JetBlue will be the first commercial airline to use Amazon’s network of low Earth orbit satellites to provide free wireless internet service to passengers.
The two companies announced Thursday that JetBlue will link select aircraft to the network – referred to by Amazon as Project Kuiper – starting in 2027.
JetBlue has offered free wireless internet to all passengers since 2013 as part of its Fly-Fi service. Integration with Amazon’s satellites is expected to increase the service’s reliability and expand capacity for bandwidth-intensive activities like streaming, according to airline leaders.
“Our agreement with Project Kuiper marks an exciting leap forward for us as the hands-down leader in onboard connectivity,” said JetBlue President Marty St. George. “Whether it’s binge-watching a favorite show, staying connected with loved ones, or wrapping up a work project, we’re always looking for ways to make our customers’ time in the air as connected and productive as they want it to be.”
Amazon is working on a similar deal to integrate Project Kuiper connectivity into Airbus’ aircraft catalogue.
The technology and e-commerce giant currently has over 100 Kuiper satellites in orbit. The network competes directly with SpaceX’s Starlink.
