Delta CEO Ed Bastian says the airline chose Amazon’s satellite internet service because it offered better technology at a lower price. That may be true. But when a CEO reportedly tells employees, “We do not want to be with Elon Musk. Trust me,” shareholders and passengers deserve to know whether that was the whole story.
The reported comments have not been independently verified, and Delta has not confirmed them. That distinction matters. But so does the question they raise: Was Delta’s decision based on a careful comparison of commercial options, or did Bastian’s personal view of Musk influence a choice with consequences for millions of passengers?
It’s hard to give him the benefit of the doubt because Bastian has already made a high-profile political slip-up, to the chagrin of his shareholders. In 2021, after Georgia passed its voting law, Delta initially said the final bill had been “vastly improved” during the legislative process.
Days later, after criticism and pressure, Bastian called the law “unacceptable” and said its rationale was “based on a lie.” He was entitled to speak out. But the episode showed that he is willing to make Delta a participant in political disputes, and that public pressure can precede a sharp change in the company’s position.
The stakes are concrete. Delta says Amazon Leo installations will begin in 2028, initially on 500 aircraft. United says it has Starlink on 450 planes and remains on track to outfit its entire fleet by the end of 2027. That schedule gives United a substantial head start in bringing the service to its customers. Delta may believe Amazon will ultimately deliver a better product at a better price. It should show its work.
Bastian has offered a business case in public. He has cited Amazon’s price, bandwidth and broader technology offerings. Delta also has its own free Wi-Fi system and loyalty-linked login portal. Those are relevant considerations. But a public defense of the decision does not answer whether the company evaluated Starlink on its merits, or whether a personal objection to Musk helped decide the outcome.
That history does not prove politics drove the Starlink decision. It does make transparency more important. Delta’s board is responsible for overseeing management on behalf of shareholders. Its customers, too, have a legitimate interest in whether an important service decision reflects a rigorous business judgment or a CEO’s personal preferences.
That concern is not theoretical. We divested from Delta after Mr. Bastian’s first foray into politics. The reported Starlink remarks only sharpen the question of whether Delta’s leadership is putting business interests first.
Delta should release a clear account of how it compared Starlink and Amazon Leo: price, performance, rollout timing, reliability, customer experience and the terms of each proposal. And Ed Bastian should answer the central question directly: Was Elon Musk a factor in Delta’s decision to reject Starlink?
A CEO asking shareholders to trust his judgment should be willing to answer that plainly.
Delta shareholders will once again be subjected to the turmoil of the CEO’s political speech; perhaps Mr. Bastian will soon have the opportunity to run for elected office.
Ed Bastian has been Delta’s CEO since May 2, 2016, about nine and a half years, coming up on ten in May. Delta announced a broad executive reshuffle in March 2026 with a new president, new CFO, new COO, new CMO, but Bastian wasn’t part of it, and no successor has been named. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year he was “not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Maybe the time has come for Bastian to move on if he’s not going to put his shareholders and customers at the forefront.
Bill Flaig is the CEO & Co-Founder of the American Conservative Values ETF (NYSE: ACVF) with over $150M in AUM (Assets Under Management). Learn more at www.investconservative.com
Questions investors are asking
What should Delta disclose about how it chose its Wi-Fi provider?
A clear account of how it compared Starlink and Amazon Leo: price, performance, rollout timing, reliability, customer experience and the terms of each proposal. Bastian has defended the decision in public, citing Amazon’s price, bandwidth and broader technology offerings. A public defense is not the same as releasing the evaluation.
What happened between Delta and Georgia’s 2021 voting law?
After Georgia passed the law, Delta initially said the final bill had been “vastly improved” during the legislative process. Days later, following criticism and pressure, Bastian called the law “unacceptable” and said its rationale was “based on a lie.” The reversal showed that public pressure can precede a sharp change in the company’s position.
Is there a succession plan at Delta?
None has been made public. Ed Bastian has been CEO since May 2, 2016, approaching ten years. Delta announced a broad executive reshuffle in March 2026 with a new president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and chief marketing officer, but Bastian was not part of it and no successor has been named. He told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last year he was “not going anywhere anytime soon.”
What is a board responsible for when a CEO’s politics may affect a business decision?
Overseeing management on behalf of shareholders. That duty does not disappear because a decision is framed as commercial. Where a reported remark raises a question about the basis for a vendor choice, the board’s job is to satisfy itself the evaluation was rigorous — and to be able to show it was.
* The views expressed are those of the authors as of 10/12/26 and are subject to change without notice. These opinions are not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of results, or investment advice.
* As of October 12, 2026, the fund holds 0.00% of Amazon, Delta Air Lines, and SpaceX (parent company of Starlink). The fund’s holdings are subject to change. For current holdings, please visit https://acvetfs.com/fund/acv-etf-fund-data/#holdings