American Airlines will put Starlink Wi-Fi on every mainline aircraft it flies, including its Boeing widebodies, the airline announced on October 8, 2026. Installations begin in early 2027, and the plan covers more than 1,000 mainline jets.
In May, American announced Starlink for more than 500 Airbus aircraft; the new plan adds its Boeing narrowbodies and widebodies. Here's what American announced, what you get on board today, and what to expect in the meantime.
What American Announced
American says it will bring Starlink to all of its mainline aircraft: Airbus narrowbodies, Boeing narrowbodies and Boeing widebodies. The release breaks the mainline fleet down like this:
- Airbus narrowbodies: more than 500
- Boeing narrowbodies: more than 400
- Boeing widebodies: more than 130
- Total mainline fleet: more than 1,030
The jets will use Starlink's Performance Aero Terminal, which American says can deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps per terminal. American says the goal is one of the world's largest Starlink-connected fleets, with Wi-Fi from gate to gate. It also says more than 165 million customers fly on a mainline American aircraft each year, and that it will take delivery of more than 300 new mainline aircraft in the coming years.
"Our customers have told us that dependable connectivity can make a meaningful difference in how they spend their time in the air," said Heather Garboden, American's chief customer officer.
What You Get on American Today
Starlink installations don't start until early 2027. Today, American offers free Wi-Fi sponsored by AT&T on most domestic flights and select international flights, exclusively for AAdvantage members. On its own Wi-Fi page, American lists every Airbus A319, A320 and A321, every Boeing 737, select Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft and most regional aircraft.
You connect to the aainflight.com network and log in with your AAdvantage account. If you're not a member, joining is free, and it's worth doing before your flight.
How It Compares
For where United's Starlink rollout stands, see our United Starlink update. For a carrier-by-carrier look at who offers free Wi-Fi and how fast it is, see our airline Wi-Fi guide.
What It Means for Your Next Trip
Starlink installs begin in early 2027, so for trips in the rest of 2026, the free Wi-Fi on board is the AT&T-sponsored service for AAdvantage members. If you fly American and don't yet have an AAdvantage account, open one before your next trip so you can use the free Wi-Fi that's on board today.
