Amazon has unveiled the Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna, a low‑profile, electronically steered inflight‑connectivity system designed to deliver up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload to every seat on an aircraft. The antenna is built specifically for aviation, with no moving parts, a slim 2.6‑inch profile to reduce drag, and a design that allows airlines to install it in one day. It integrates its own modem, uses aviation‑grade connectors, and is engineered to withstand harsh weather and temperature extremes.
A single antenna is capable of supporting an entire aircraft—widebodies or regional jets—providing enough bandwidth for streaming, gaming, video calls, and real‑time collaboration. Crew can also use the connection for operational tasks that benefit from near‑instant data. The system connects to Amazon’s low‑Earth‑orbit satellite network, handing off seamlessly between satellites as the aircraft moves, and uses laser inter‑satellite links to maintain performance over oceans, polar routes, and remote regions.
Amazon Leo is building more than 300 global ground gateways to reduce latency and improve resilience, routing traffic through AWS edge locations for fast access to the internet or cloud services. The company says airlines have responded strongly to the technology, with Delta Air Lines and JetBlue already signing agreements to adopt the system. Amazon plans to share additional details as it moves toward commercial rollout.