Delta Air Lines has begun the rollout of fast, free Wi-Fi on select long-haul international flights, enhancing connectivity for passengers across the globe. This service, presented by T-Mobile, marks a significant step in Delta’s goal to offer complimentary Wi-Fi on its entire global fleet.
The new service is initially available on Viasat-equipped aircraft operating long-haul international routes. Delta expects to extend free Wi-Fi to most transatlantic flights by the end of summer 2024. Currently, free, streaming-quality connectivity is accessible on nearly 700 aircraft, representing over 90% of Delta’s domestic mainline fleet. The airline anticipates broadening this availability to the majority of its customers by the end of the year.
“As we continue to roll out fast, free Wi-Fi and the in-flight experiences it powers, we’re able to serve customers traveling both domestically and internationally in new, in-the-moment ways," said Ranjan Goswami, senior vice president of customer experience design for Delta.
The implementation of free Wi-Fi on international flights will proceed on a route-by-route basis. Initially, passengers on Viasat-equipped aircraft will experience this service without needing to log in with their SkyMiles account. Later in the year, all Viasat-equipped aircraft will transition to the Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience, which will require SkyMiles membership for access to exclusive onboard features and offers.
The timeline for the rollout is as follows:
- August 2024: United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Italy
- September 2024: Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland
- October 2024: South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) and Hawaii
- December 2024/January 2025: Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal
- Mid-Late 2025: Transpacific region (including Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and South Africa
This schedule is subject to change based on testing and satellite availability. Delta also plans to extend this service to regional routes, including those serviced by Boeing 717 aircraft, into 2025.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Delta Air Lines. It was reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.