Delta CEO denies Musk feud as airline posts first earnings miss in two years
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said his decision not to use SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi was not personal, despite Elon Musk predicting Bastian would lose his job. Delta missed Wall Street earnings estimates for the first time in two years and cut its 2026 profit forecast as adjusted fuel costs jumped 62% to $4.1 billion. The airline still reported record September-quarter revenue of $17.6 billion, up 16%, and a pretax profit of $1.5 billion.
The Wi-Fi rivalry could affect travelers who pick airlines partly for onboard connectivity, as carriers use faster service to win loyalty. Delta’s weaker forecast may influence future fares, routes, or cabin investments, while fuel volatility could pressure investors and staff. Rival promotions may give some passengers short-term switching incentives, though long-term effects depend on rollout costs, reliability, and whether premium demand holds. Count: The1 Wi-Fi2 rivalry3 could4 affect5 travelers6 who7 pick8 airlines9 partly10 for11 onboard12 connectivity,13 as14 carriers15 use16 faster17 service18 to19 win20 loyalty.21 Delta’s22 weaker23 forecast24 may25 influence26 future27 fares,28 routes,29 or30 cabin31 investments,32 while33 fuel34 volatility35 could36 pressure37 investors38 and39 staff.40 Rival41 promotions42 may43 give44 some45 passengers46 short-term47 switching48 incentives,49 though50 long-term51 effects52 depend53 on54 rollout55 costs,56 reliability,57 and58 whether59 pre