Delta Airlines is already supplying free WiFi on some long-haul routes, and says the existing 700 equipped aircraft will be extended to “the vast majority of our fleet” by year-end.

The WiFi is supplied using Viasat satellites and is presented by T-Mobile (which also happens to have an agreement in place with SpaceX’s Starlink broadband service in some regions). The currently equipped fleet of almost 700 aircraft represents more than 90 per cent of Delta’s US domestic fleet.

“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,” says Ranjan Goswami, SVP Customer Experience Design. “The scale at which we’re bringing free Wi-Fi to customers is unmatched in the airline industry, and it’s a testament to the incredible efforts of Delta teams across the business that have expertly navigated an extremely complex rollout.”

As free Wi-Fi rolls out internationally, Delta says its international Wi-Fi portal will not require a SkyMiles log-in initially.

Later this year, all Viasat Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft will officially convert to the personalised Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience unlocked by customers’ SkyMiles memberships for exclusive onboard experiences and offers.

Delta’s French routes are already WiFi equipped, and this August will see the UK added, as well as Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Italy. Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland will be added during September.

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Categories: Articles, Broadband, Satellite

Tags: Delta, IFC, T-Mobile