Delta’s Free Wi-Fi Goes Global — How Do Other Airlines Compare?
Photo Caption: A passenger onboard a Delta Air Lines aircraft. Delta Air Lines
Skift Take
Once considered an overpriced gimmick, onboard Wi-Fi is quickly becoming a cabin commodity.
After a July it would rather forget, Delta Air Lines is working hard to restore its reputation as an aviation innovator. The U.S. carrier is launching free onboard Wi-Fi across its global network in the coming months, with many major markets enjoying the perk within a matter of weeks.
In partnership with T-Mobile, Delta's goal is to bring reliable, streaming-quality connectivity to its entire fleet. The airline already offers free Wi-Fi on around 90% of its 700 domestic mainline aircraft, with plans to boost this figure further by the end of the year. Smaller regional planes are also being upgraded.
However, international expansion is much more complex. Long-haul flights often pass over large bodies of water and sparsely populated areas - locations that have traditionally been beyond the reach of fast onboard connections.
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