Delta Launches Free Wi-Fi on Long-Haul Flights with Detailed Launch Schedule

Staying connected when flying long-haul routes with Delta Air Lines is about to get a whole lot easier.

The Atlanta-based airline announced this week that it will officially bring its free high-speed Wi-Fi offering to overseas flights. The airline piloted free long-haul Wi-Fi on flights to France last month and is now ready for a much broader rollout.

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

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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: Trans-Pacific region (including Asia, Australia and New Zealand) and South Africa

Additionally, regional routes and flights operated by the Boeing 717 are expected to follow a similar process and be operational in 2025, according to the airline.

As we saw with Delta’s free Wi-Fi launch, these timelines are obviously subject to change. In fact, the airline had promised to complete the rollout of free long-haul Wi-Fi by the end of the year, so this updated launch schedule technically represents a delay of nearly 12 months.

To equip its long-haul fleet with free Wi-Fi, Delta must first equip its twin-aisle jets with Viasat satellite service. Viasat provides Delta with enough bandwidth to allow everyone to enjoy streaming Wi-Fi speeds. (Boeing 717s and regional jets are getting a different satellite provider: Hughes Network Systems.)

Rather than simply “flip the switch” on free long-range Wi-Fi, the airline is being methodical in its rollout plans. The carrier says this ensures it can monitor the reliability of the service, especially since bandwidth is at a premium overseas.

During the transition period, we recommend monitoring Delta’s website and signing up for pre-flight emails for detailed information on internet availability on your route.

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Until the airline allows free long-haul Wi-Fi, you’ll have to pay for Internet on jets equipped with the current Intelsat Internet provider. Packages are priced based on flight distance and other dynamic factors.

With the advent of free Wi-Fi internationally, the International Wi-Fi Portal will initially not require a SkyMiles login. Later this year, all Viasat-equipped aircraft will transition to a personalized Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience, which is unlocked with a SkyMiles login. The Delta Sync Portal offers personalized onboard experiences and offerings.

Currently, free streaming-quality connectivity is available on nearly 700 Delta aircraft, representing more than 90 percent of the airline’s domestic fleet. Delta said “the vast majority of customers will have access to the product by the end of the year.”

At the bottom of this post you will find all the latest details on which jets offer which Internet providers.

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Delta Free Wi-Fi Implementation Status

Here are the jets that already offer free Wi-Fi powered by Viasat:

• The Airbus A220-300
• The Airbus A319
• The Airbus A320
• The Airbus A321
• The Airbus A321neo
• The Boeing 737-800
• The Boeing 737-900
• Boeing 757-200 (some aircraft)

Some of the following aircraft are already equipped with Viasat Wi-Fi and will be available online with free Wi-Fi in the coming months, according to the route-by-route distribution schedule above:

• The Airbus A330-200
• The Airbus A330-300
• The Airbus A330-900neo
• The Airbus A350
• The Boeing 757-300
• The Boeing 767-300
• The Boeing 767-400

The following aircraft are currently equipped with Onboard Wi-Fi service (formerly Gogo), but will receive Viasat or Hughes Wi-Fi service by the end of next year:

• Airbus A330-200 (some aircraft)
• Airbus A330-300 (some aircraft)
• Airbus A330-900neo (some aircraft)
• Airbus A350 (some aircraft)
• The Boeing 717-200
• Boeing 757-300 (some aircraft)
• Boeing 767-300 (some aircraft)
• Boeing 767-400 (some aircraft)
• CRJ-700 Bomber
• CRJ-900 Bomber
• Ember E170
• Ember E175

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