What happened
Viasat's Viasat-3 Flight 2 satellite, launched in November 2025, is set to enter service in August 2026. This upgrade will more than double the network capacity, adding over one terabit per second. While maximum speeds may not increase significantly, the added capacity will improve reliability during busy periods. This development directly benefits American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue, which have the largest fleets of Viasat-equipped aircraft among US carriers. All three offer free Wi-Fi on these aircraft. United Airlines, which is rapidly replacing Viasat with Starlink, sees limited long-term value. Delta and JetBlue plan to introduce Amazon Leo as of 2028