Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will upgrade its in-flight Wi-Fi service to offer faster speeds and expanded coverage enabling international passengers better connectivity when travelling to the U.S..
Delta has completed installation of Ku-band satellite Wi-Fi on more than one-third of its international fleet and will be 85 percent complete by the end of 2015. In mid-2016, its entire international fleet, including all of its Boeing 777, 767, 747, Airbus A330 and transoceanic Boeing 757 aircraft operating on long-haul routes will offer Wi-Fi. The addition of in-flight Internet on nearly 150 aircraft will expand the number of Delta’s aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi to approximately 1,000 to offer customers the most global Wi-Fi access of any carrier. 2Ku service will be offered on Airbus A330-900Neo and A350-900 aircraft when they enter the Delta fleet.
The latest upgrades will extend Wi-Fi access beyond the shores of the North America forcustomers traveling between the U. S. and Latin America or the Caribbean. Gogo (NASDAQ:GOGO) will begin updating Delta’s long-haul domestic aircraft currently using air-to-ground technology with satellite-based technology starting in 2016.
In addition to the international offering, Delta will support Gogo’s efforts to develop the industry’s newest technology with Gogo’s next generation air-to-ground service for its short-haul aircraft, which will feature faster connection at broadband speeds. Today’s announcement is the latest step Delta is taking to improve the travel experience and continue leading the industry with innovative technology solutions for its customers.
“Global connectivity equals global productivity and business travelers want greater bandwidth, faster speeds and broader network coverage,” said Tim Mapes, Senior Vice President – Marketing. “That’s exactly what they will get when they fly Delta.”