Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian announced a few hours ago that the airline would roll out free WiFi for all passengers on nearly 80% of its fleet, in partnership with cell phone carrier T-Mobile, starting on February 1.

Partnering with T-Mobile and Viasat to provide free WiFi for all

Free WiFi for all passengers has been a plan of Delta for a few years and is finally coming to fruition. After changing WiFi providers from its exclusive partnership with GoGo, Delta began installing Viasat equipment on its aircraft. Through trials on some of Delta's flights, Viasat proved that its technology could keep every passenger onboard an aircraft simultaneously connected.

Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Tradeshow, Delta Air Lines CEO said,

“At work, at home and everywhere in between, connectivity is essential to daily life, and your journey on Delta should be no different. Our vision has long been to deliver an experience at 30,000 feet that feels similar to what our customers have available on the ground.”

Bastian added,

"We didn’t just want free Wi-Fi to offer base-level service – we wanted it to be transformative for the entire onboard experience. It is imperative all customers onboard can enjoy their favorite content just as they would at home, and we’ve put this system through meticulous tests to make that possible.”

T-Mobile's CEO Mike Sievert added,

"At T-Mobile, we believe staying connected while traveling should be an easy, seamless experience. T-Mobile customers already get free in-flight Wi-Fi and now we’re partnering with Delta to bring that experience to all customers — regardless of their wireless provider — so that anyone flying Delta can enjoy online access from takeoff to touchdown."

How does it work?

Starting on February 1, passengers flying on 80% of the aircraft in Delta's fleet will have access to the new amenity the airline is providing. Delta confirmed that as of next month, free WiFi will be available on most of its domestic mainline aircraft and that its international and regional aircraft will be included by 2024.

Photo: Delta Air Lines News Hub
 

In order to access Delta's WiFi for free, passengers must be SkyMiles members and/or T-Mobile customers. Becoming a SkyMiles member is free, and passengers can join while onboard in order to take advantage of the internet without having to pay a dime. Delta says that by requiring a SkyMiles account to connect to the internet, it will be able to maintain a stronger relationship with its passengers and target them with specific promotions. Those who do not wish to create a SkyMiles account can access the internet for $10.

The Atlanta-based carrier created a frequently asked questions page with additional details about the announcement. Passengers will know if their aircraft provides free WiFi by newly installed decals located next to the boarding door. Perhaps the second most exciting part of the announcement is that there is no device limit for customers wishing to take advantage of the new offering.