Delta to Equip Long-Haul International Fleet for Wi-Fi Inflight Internet

Delta Air Lines will begin offering in-flight Internet service on its long-haul international fleet of more than 150 aircraft in early 2013.

The airline’s long-haul international fleet includes Boeing 777-200ERs and 777-200LRs, Boeing 767-300ERs and 767-400ERs, Boeing 747-400s, Airbus 330-200s and A330-300s and transoceanic Boeing 757s.

By 2015, Delta Air Lines expects to have approximately 1,000 aircraft equipped to offer Gogo Inflight Internet service via W-Fi, provided by its service partner Gogo. Among the aircraft equipped will be more than 150 long-haul international aircraft, which will offer Wi-Fi-enabled Inflight service via Ku-Band satellites

Delta Air Lines will partner with a single provider, its existing in-flight Internet partner Gogo, to offer global connectivity with Gogo Inflight Internet service.

The expanded Wi-Fi service will use satellites to provide coverage internationally and will complement the existing air-to-ground service already provided by Gogo for Delta aircraft flying within the domestic U.S.

Delta Air Lines already operates the world’s largest Wi-Fi-equipped fleet of aircraft, which includes its entire fleet of 550 domestic mainline aircraft and operates more than 3,000 Wi-Fi-enabled flights daily.

More than 800 Delta aircraft, including all Delta Connection two-class regional jets, are equipped with in-flight Wi-Fi service, offering more than 400,000 customers per day access to bradoband connectivity above 10,000 feet.

The international service will use high-bandwidth-capacity Ku-band satellites to provide global coverage. When installation of in-flight Internet capability on Delta’s international fleet is complete in 2015, Delta will have approximately 1,000 Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft in its fleet.

“Delta’s advancements in technology have been a key component to our improvements in the customer travel experience and have been cited by J.D. Power and Associates and PCWorld magazine as important aspects of travel,” says Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president – marketing. “With our expansion of international Wi-Fi options across our fleet, Delta customers will be able to stay connected throughout their journey.”

The expansion of in-flight Wi-Fi to Delta’s transoceanic fleet is the latest in Delta’s program to invest more than $3 billion through 2013 in enhanced in-flight service products, services and airport facilities.