Amazon’s satellite network is taking inflight Wi-Fi from punchline to power tool—JetBlue will be first to roll it out
Spotty in-flight Wi-Fi has long been a running joke among frequent travelers, but for meeting professionals it’s no laughing matter. Delayed file uploads, frozen video calls, or dropped connections in transit can derail coordination and frustrate attendees traveling to an event. Amazon’s Project Kuiper, now preparing for commercial service, could finally change that equation.
Launched in 2018, Project Kuiper is Amazon’s initiative to provide “fast, reliable broadband to customers and communities around the world, including in places that are currently unserved or underserved,” according to the company. The network will ultimately consist of more than 3,200 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites linked to a global mesh of antennas, fiber, and cloud connections. By operating just 367 to 392 miles above Earth—compared to 22,000 miles for traditional geostationary satellites—Kuiper promises lower latency, higher speeds, and more reliability.
“Staying connected is part of everyday life, even when you’re traveling,” said Panos Panay, Amazon’s senior vice president of Devices & Services. “With Project Kuiper, we’re working to ensure customers can enjoy fast, reliable internet wherever they are—at home or 35,000 feet in the air.”
JetBlue Gets the First-Mover Advantage
JetBlue announced it will be the first airline to deploy Project Kuiper, beginning installations across part of its fleet in 2027. The carrier already differentiates itself as the only major U.S. airline to offer free Wi-Fi on every aircraft through its Fly-Fi service. Kuiper technology represents the “next evolution,” JetBlue executives say.
“Our agreement with Project Kuiper marks an exciting leap forward for us as the hands-down leader in onboard connectivity,” said Marty St. George, president of JetBlue. “Whether it’s binge-watching a favorite show, staying connected with loved ones, or wrapping up a work project, we’re always looking for ways to make our customers’ time in the air as connected and productive as they want it to be.”
The Kuiper-powered Fly-Fi system will use aviation-grade phased array antennas capable of supporting up to 1 gigabit per second on a single device. Amazon says the system will have “best-in-class downlink and uplink performance,” enabling not just entertainment streaming but also cloud collaboration, video conferencing, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks.
From Aisle Seat to Meeting Seat
For meeting and event professionals, the implications are direct:
Productivity in Transit: Attendees can work reliably en route, meaning fewer lost hours and smoother pre-event coordination.
Hybrid Readiness: With stable bandwidth, delegates could join livestreamed sessions or participate in pre-conference calls from 35,000 feet.
Duty of Care: Better connectivity strengthens duty-of-care programs, allowing planners to monitor and assist traveling attendees in real time.
Airline Differentiation: For groups traveling together, JetBlue’s Kuiper advantage could make it a more attractive airline partner, particularly for incentive groups or corporate teams where connectivity is critical.
The Bigger Picture
Amazon has already launched more than 100 Kuiper satellites and is ramping up production, with the goal of starting service later this year in select regions. While JetBlue is the first airline partner, Amazon also announced an agreement with Airbus to integrate Kuiper connectivity into new aircraft models, signaling wider adoption to come.
For planners, that means the dreaded “offline for a few hours” excuse may finally fade into history. Instead, air travel could become a seamless extension of the workday—or even the event itself.
As one JetBlue executive put it: “We want our customers’ time in the air to be as connected and productive as they want it to be.” For the meetings industry, that’s not just an amenity — it’s a competitive advantage.
Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.
Photo by Amazon
