Delta Air Lines says that it has installed Wi-Fi on nearly half of its domestic mainline fleet. Of the more than 300 airplanes Delta operates on U.S. routes, 139 are equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet, including the entire MD-88 fleet. In addition, the MD-90 fleet will be complete by the end of May with the remainder of the domestic fleet scheduled for completion by September. Delta claims that it now offers more Wi-Fi onboard than any airline worldwide.
Delta said it made a commitment last year to equip its entire domestic fleet with Wi-Fi, allowing more travelers to use their electronic devices on airplanes to surf the Internet, access e-mail and send instant messages. The airline later expanded its installation plans to include approximately 200 pre-merger Northwest airplanes which are slated for completion next year. Once complete, Delta will have more than 500 aircraft offering Wi-Fi.
In addition to the MD-88s, Wi-Fi is now available on select 757-200s and MD-90s. Service is offered in both First and Economy class on a pay-per-flight basis. The cost of Wi-Fi access on a single Delta flight ranges from $7.95-$12.95. In June, customers also will be able to purchase month-long, unlimited use passes.
On the ground, Delta has expanded free Wi-Fi access to include all visitors to Delta Sky Club lounges within the U.S. Effective immediately, access cards formerly provided in pre-merger Delta lounges are no longer necessary to access Wi-Fi networks in Delta Sky Clubs.