Delta scores a small win in the airline WiFi wars

Delta Air Lines may have the best in-flight WiFi on transpacific flights.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images Delta Air Lines' decision to avoid Elon Musk's Starlink has attracted plenty of critics.

However, its WiFi provider, ViaSat, recently launched a new satellite for the Pacific region.

It could give Delta an upper hand over rivals like United on transpacific flights from the US to Asia.

Delta Air Lines has faced an onslaught of criticism for its lack of Starlink internet, but its current free WiFi service is getting an upgrade this month.

Elon Musk said CEO Ed Bastian should lose his job over his decision to tap Amazon Leo, with installation starting in 2028, instead of Starlink.

United Airlines also took aim at its rival by offering loyalty program status matches.

Its offer said, "Don't keep buffering: switch to United and get the fastest WiFi in the sky." However, there may be some flights where Delta's WiFi is the cream of the crop.

United was one of the first airlines to sign up for Musk's satellite internet service, back in 2024.

Since then, it has been installing Starlink terminals on its airplanes at a fairly impressive rate, but there is still a way to go.

In an announcement on Thursday, United said Starlink is now equipped on more than 40% of its fleet.

It has over 1,600 airplanes, including mainline aircraft and regional ones operated by United Express partners.

It hopes that all its airplanes will have Starlink by the end of next year.

But for long-haul flights, passengers are likely to be out of luck.