Elon Musk Calls Out Delta For 'Painful, Difficult, & Expensive' Decision

Delta Air Lines was engaged in conversations with Elon Musk's SpaceX to utilize its Starlink satellite internet platform. However, the deal has fallen through, and Musk has some strong words for Delta as a result.

The deal seems to have fallen through over branding issues, with Delta insisting on using the Delta Sync portal instead of the Starlink-branded portal. Musk offered his own perspective on the negotiations as he called out Delta for what he describes as a "painful, difficult, and expensive" decision.

Delta and Starlink Deal Falls Through

Earlier this year, Delta Air Lines declined to partner with Starlink and instead chose to partner with the competition, Amazon's LEO service. Amazon's LEO is now expected to offer high-speed, low-latency network connectivity onboard Delta aircraft, starting in 2028.

While we knew of Delta's decision not to partner with Starlink, we did not know the reason why the deal ultimately fell through until a recent CNBC interview with early SpaceX and xAI investor Ron Baron.

During his interview, Baron said that Delta insisted Starlink access would sit behind Delta's branded portal rather than Starlink's. Essentially, Delta wanted to offer "Delta Sync" to its passengers through its own app rather than Starlink, leading to the deal to fall through.

Elon Musk Calls Out Delta

As news of this made its way through the mediasphere this week, Musk offered his reaction, offering his perspective on why the negotiations ultimately fell through.

Musk claims that SpaceX requires Starlink WiFi to work just like it would if a user was at their own home, not through a portal.

"Not exactly. SpaceX requires that there be no annoying 'portal' to use Starlink," Musk wrote in a post on X. "Starlink WiFi must just work effortlessly every time, as though you were at home."

He went on to call out Delta for what he described as a "painful, difficult and expensive" move for its customers.

"Delta wanted to make it painful, difficult and expensive for their customers. Hard to see how that is a winning strategy," Musk added in his post.

With this deal falling through, Amazon's LEO will not be active on Delta flights until 2028. Meanwhile, United has already been rolling out Starlink connectivity across its fleet since October 2025.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 10:10 AM.