Delta Announces Plans for Fast, Free Wi-Fi

Travel insights from Jenna Buege, associate editor of The Compass

Jenna Buege Published January 06, 2023

Delta Air Lines made an exciting announcement on January 5, 2023, with the introduction of fast, free onboard Wi-Fi. In partnership with T-Mobile, the new experience is expected to roll out on February 1, 2023, and will make Delta the first major U.S. airline to introduce free Wi-Fi as a core element of its customer experience for most domestic mainline flights.

Looking for specifics? Here’s the timeline. By the end of 2023, Delta will offer free Wi-Fi on more than 700 Viasat-equipped aircraft. Additionally, the airline plans to introduce free Wi-Fi on international and regional aircraft by the end of 2024.

man sitting in an airplane seat — *Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines*

“At work, at home and everywhere in between, connectivity is essential to daily life, and your journey on Delta should be no different,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “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.”

To access the service, travelers can log in via their Delta SkyMiles account on the ground or in the air to connect to Wi-Fi for free.

“At T-Mobile, we believe staying connected while traveling should be an easy, seamless experience,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “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.”

About the Author

Jenna Buege is a Milwaukee-based writer and editor who loves exploring the great outdoors, spending time with her two black cats and jetting off on exciting, sometimes strange, adventures. She joined the VAX VacationAccess team in 2018 and takes pride in being a reliable source for travel advisors as they navigate an ever-changing industry. Her favorite destination so far is Iceland, although Alaska and Germany are close seconds, and she’s always adding new places to her ever-growing travel wish list.