Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian says he has no personal dispute with Elon Musk, whose recent criticism of the airline on X followed Delta's decision to choose Amazon Leo rather than SpaceX's Starlink for its next-generation onboard satellite internet service. The choice puts the competition between satellite providers in focus as airlines weigh their options for in-flight connectivity.
In a CNBC interview on October 9, Bastian said he did not see the relationship as “a back-and-forth.” He said he likes Starlink and admires Musk's work, adding that he drives a Tesla. Bastian said he was not particularly concerned by Musk's recent comments on X and that people are entitled to express their views.
Musk criticises Delta after its Amazon Leo deal
The dispute dates back to March, when Delta announced it had selected Amazon Leo to provide its next-generation satellite internet service instead of Starlink. Musk warned in a post on X that Delta did not understand how much the decision could affect the company.
Musk's criticism of Bastian and Delta intensified over the past two weeks. The aviation-focused X account JonNYC posted several unverified remarks attributed to Bastian, including the claim, “We don't want to work with Elon Musk.” Musk reposted an article citing the remarks that day and said Bastian would lose his job over them. The quotes have not been verified, and the report did not include a response from Delta.
In late September, Musk also mocked Delta over its choice of connectivity provider, writing that “putting AI on Delta flights is the best way to quarantine it.” Bastian has not responded in kind, instead playing down the public exchange.
In-flight Wi-Fi choices bring cost and competition into focus
Airlines' decisions on whether to install Starlink have prompted disputes elsewhere, too. In January, Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary traded barbs on X. Ryanair had cited cost concerns in deciding not to install Starlink on its aircraft. Musk launched a poll asking whether he should buy Ryanair and appoint someone named Ryan as its boss; O'Leary responded with a ticket promotion called “The Great Idiot Sale.”
Unlike O'Leary, Bastian said he would not treat Musk's remarks as a personal conflict. For airlines, choosing an onboard internet provider affects not only the passenger experience but also deployment costs and supplier arrangements. Delta's selection of Amazon Leo and Musk's ongoing comments on X remain at the centre of the dispute, while Bastian says there is no personal feud between them.