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While other U.S. airlines are scrambling to offer free Wi-Fi to customers to remain competitive, JetBlue has announced a plan to upgrade its current free Wi-Fi service. The airline is partnering with Project Kuiper, an Amazon company with ambitious aspirations to bring Wi-Fi to hard-to-reach locations, from schools and hospitals in underserved communities to airplanes.
Here's what to know about the JetBlue and Project Kuiper partnership, and when you can expect the upgraded Wi-Fi on JetBlue planes.
JetBlue to Use Project Kuiper to Upgrade In-Flight Fly-Fi
JetBlue was the U.S. first airline to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi to its passengers, and it will soon be raising the bar. In 2027, JetBlue will become the first airline to use Project Kuiper, an Amazon company, to delivery fast, free Wi-Fi to passengers. Fly-Fi, JetBlue's in-flight connectivity option, will receive a major upgrade when this takes effect on roughly one-quarter of its aircraft.
For a little background, Project Kuiper is on a mission to bring internet access to hard-to-reach locations around the globe. In simple terms, Amazon deploys thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites are linked to a global network of internet connection points on the ground. Low Earth orbit satellites orbit between 367 and 391 miles above the Earth, while geostationary satellites, which other airlines use for connectivity, orbit around 22,369 miles above the Earth.
By using low Earth orbit satellites, passengers will notice much faster speeds and less buffering, so it will feel much more similar to using the internet from your home. Project Kuiper's satellites orbit slightly above Starlink satellites, which provide connectivity for several carriers, including Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Qatar Airways. However, according to Project Kuiper, its broadband will have an aviation-specific customer terminal that will provide best-in-class performance, even on data-intensive activities.
In addition to a partnership with JetBlue, Project Kuiper also signed an agreement with Airbus to integrate the service into its aircraft. While some airlines are still figuring out how to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi, JetBlue is two steps ahead.
Related: American Airlines to Launch Free In-Flight Wi-Fi in 2026
Final Thoughts
Fast, free Wi-Fi is a goal for just about any traveler. Whether you like to watch YouTube on your iPad or catch up on work, having reliable internet access on a short, medium, or long-haul flight can revolutionize your experience. As of now, it seems that Project Kuiper broadband will only be available on a quarter of aircraft, so you may or may not get to experience it once it is deployed. Although it will begin to install the service in 2027, it's not clear just how long the installation will take place.
Upgrading Fly-Fi is one piece of a larger push for JetBlue to cement its position for U.S. travelers. The airline will also debut a domestic first class and open airport lounges in 2026, and launched a new co-branded credit card earlier this year.
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