Delta takes fast, free Wi-Fi international and inclusion
Delta has started rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile on select long-haul international routes – a major milestone in the airline’s journey to bring reliable, streaming quality connectivity to its entire global fleet for free. Most transatlantic flights are expected to be in service with free Wi-Fi by the end of the summer.
Delta’s industry-leading Wi-Fi rollout is taking off internationally. Starting this summer, customers on select Viasat-equipped long-haul international flights can enjoy fast, free Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile – bringing the airline one step closer to recognizing its goal of offering free Wi-Fi on its entire global fleet.
Today, free, streaming-quality connectivity is available on nearly 700 aircraft – more than 90% of Delta’s domestic mainline fleet – and the airline expects the vast majority of customers will have access to the product 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,” says Ranjan Goswami, S.V.P. – 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.”
What’s Next
To ensure Delta is delivering the premium service customers expect, the airline is rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi on Viasat-equipped widebody aircraft on a route-by-route basis. Additional routes will be phased in as high-quality, reliable service becomes available. This strategy mirrors the approach taken with domestic installations in 2022.
As free Wi-Fi rolls out internationally, the 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 personalized Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience unlocked by customers’ SkyMiles memberships for exclusive onboard experiences and offers.
Timeline
Last month, fast, free Wi-Fi rolled out on most flights to/from France (CDG and NCE) out of/into all U.S. stations. Looking ahead, the airline anticipates the following timeline1:
| Rollout Begins1 | On Viasat-Equipped Routes To/From |
| 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) followed by Hawaii |
| December 2024/January 2025 | Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal |
| Mid-Late 2025 | Transpacific region (including Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and South Africa2 |
1This is an expected timeline and is subject to change based on testing and satellite availability.
2Expected timeline based on aircraft installation schedule.
Delta’s regional routes are expected to follow a similar process and come online into 2025, including those serviced by Boeing 717 aircraft.
Knowing what Wi-Fi service to expect on your next flight
During the airline’s Wi-Fi transition period, there are unfortunately some coverage gaps where Wi-Fi is not available until additional satellites are positioned to provide full coverage. Some aircraft will have a paid Intelsat Wi-Fi experience until these additional satellites are in service and these aircraft are outfitted with upgraded satellite Wi-Fi. To know if free Wi-Fi is available on their flight, customers can:
- Visit delta.com/wifi for more information
- Reference pre-flight emails, app notifications or in-flight announcements from your flight attendants
For more information on Delta’s industry-leading connectivity, visit the Fast, free Wi-Fi with Delta Sync Media Kit.
Source: Ameyawdebrah
