Delta debuts free Wi-Fi on long-haul flights with detailed rollout schedule

Staying connected when flying on long-haul routes with Delta Air Lines is about to become much simpler.

The Atlanta-based carrier announced this week that it is officially bringing its free high-speed Wi-Fi offering to flights across the pond. The airline trialed free long-haul Wi-Fi last month on flights to France, and now it’s ready for a much broader rollout.

In August, the airline will activate free Wi-Fi on flights to the U.K., Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Italy. Below is the detailed rollout schedule for Delta’s free international Wi-Fi.

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• 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 and January 2025: Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal
• Mid to late 2025: Transpacific region (including Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and South Africa

Additionally, Delta’s regional routes and flights operated by the Boeing 717 are expected to follow a similar process and come online in 2025, according to the carrier.

As we’ve seen throughout Delta’s free Wi-Fi rollout, these timelines are, of course, subject to change. In fact, the airline had promised to complete its long-haul free Wi-Fi rollout by the end of this year, so this updated rollout plan technically represents a nearly 12-month delay.

In order to equip its long-haul fleet with free Wi-Fi, Delta first needs to retrofit its twin-aisle jets with Viasat satellite service. Viasat provides enough bandwidth for Delta to enable streaming Wi-Fi speeds for everyone. (The Boeing 717s and regional jets are getting a different satellite provider: Hughes Network Systems.)

Instead of simply “flipping the switch” on free long-haul Wi-Fi, the airline is very methodical about its launch plans. The carrier says this ensures that it can monitor the service’s reliability, especially as bandwidth comes at a premium over the ocean.

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During the transition period, you should monitor Delta’s website and subscribe to preflight emails for details about internet availability on your route.

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Until the airline enables free long-haul Wi-Fi, you’ll need to pay for internet onboard jets equipped with the existing Intelsat internet provider. The packages are priced based on flight distance and other dynamic factors.

As free Wi-Fi rolls out internationally, the international Wi-Fi portal will not initially require a SkyMiles login. Later this year, all Viasat-equipped aircraft will convert to the personalized Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience, which is unlocked by a SkyMiles login. The Delta Sync portal offers customized onboard experiences and offers.

Right now, free streaming-quality connectivity is available on nearly 700 Delta aircraft, which represents more than 90% of the airline’s domestic mainline fleet. Delta said that “the vast majority of customers will have access to the product by the end of the year.”

You’ll find all the latest details of which jets feature which internet providers at the bottom of this post.

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