Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a satellite internet initiative launched in 2019 to rival Starlink, has secured its first airline partnership with JetBlue, which is set to offer Kuiper-powered Wi-Fi services in 2027.
In April, Amazon successfully launched its first batch of 27 low-Earth orbit satellites, expanding the Kuiper constellation to over 100 satellites as part of its planned network of 3,200. A subsequent launch is scheduled for later this month. Although Amazon is making progress, it still lags behind Starlink, which currently operates over 8,000 satellites.
Panos Panay of Amazon recently demonstrated a speed test using an enterprise-grade dish, achieving download speeds of just over 1 Gbps. Amazon anticipates that initial customers will begin utilizing the service this year, with a broader rollout planned for 2026. The Project Kuiper-powered Wi-Fi will initially be available on select aircraft, promising lower latency and more reliable service due to the satellites orbiting between 367 and 391 miles above Earth, significantly closer than geostationary satellites at 22,369 miles.
Amazon has also partnered with Airbus to integrate Project Kuiper’s satellite internet service into its aircraft.
