Delta Air Lines has completed Wi‑Fi upgrades on its 1,000th aircraft, a milestone in its multiyear effort to provide complimentary inflight internet for SkyMiles members. About three in four Delta jets now offer free Wi‑Fi, after the airline upgraded systems to handle the larger number of users once fees were removed.
Most mainline types are finished: Boeing 737, 757 and 767 jets, plus Airbus A220, A320 family and A330 aircraft. Installation on A350s is wrapping up. Delta Connection regional aircraft are about one‑third completed, and the smallest mainline type, the Boeing 717, is awaiting certification. The airline expects its entire global fleet to have faster, free Wi‑Fi sometime in 2026.
Passengers should note coverage varies by route. Connectivity can drop over parts of the Pacific Ocean—especially the South Pacific—so flights to Asia and Australia may have long stretches without service. Delta says uninterrupted connectivity is available on flights to Europe, Africa and South America, as well as on domestic flights including Alaska and Hawaii, with full global coverage pending additional satellite launches from provider Viasat.
Delta first announced plans to offer free inflight Wi‑Fi to SkyMiles members in January 2023. Competitors have followed: United has rolled out complimentary Starlink service for MileagePlus members on many regional and some mainline jets; Southwest and American have made (or are making) Wi‑Fi free for their loyalty members; Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian are adding Starlink; JetBlue has long offered free Fly‑Fi.
Delta had hoped to complete the program by the end of 2024 but faced delays; with 1,000 aircraft online, roughly 300 remain to finish. Delta says the upgrades, along with newer seatback entertainment, will let passengers multitask in flight—watching a movie and using another device simultaneously. As Joseph Eddy, Delta’s director of cabins and inflight entertainment and connectivity, put it: the airline is “rapidly approaching a consumer approach for multiple device consumption at the same time.”
