Starting next year, Delta Air Lines is reportedly planning to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi on a "significant portion" of its planes, as per The Wall Street Journal.
According to the report, the company has been running tests on members of its free-to-join SkyMiles rewards program.
While only members of the SkyMiles rewards program get free access to the internet while in the air, the company has plans to make the perk more widely available soon.
Delta Will Expand its Free In-flight Wi-Fi in 2023
The free in-flight Wi-Fi is expected to expand significantly through 2023, according to The Verge. And once it is available for all passengers, the airline would likely require a SkyMiles loyalty number to get online.
The move of Delta is likely made to intensify competition over in-flight offerings. As the COVID-19 restrictions ease off, airlines are rebounding from the pandemic.
While the airline refused to comment on its plans regarding the offering, it said that it is currently in the process of testing the infrastructure of Wi-Fi.
According to Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian, he's wanted fast and free in-flight internet for years. However, there have been a number of technical challenges.
In 2029, the airline first tested free Wi-Fi on domestic flights. Later on, the company turned to a new provider, Viasat, to provide faster and more reliable service.
In 2021, Delta started offering Wi-Fi on Viasat-enabled planes for a $5 flat fee. The airline said that by the end of this year, it has plans to have most of its domestic mainline fleet equipped with that service. Meanwhile, Viasat did not issue an immediate comment on the matter.
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Delta Aims to Offer Premium Features to its Customers
Internet access has become one of the primary amenities for air travelers. However, it has also led to problems and complaints when it doesn't work as expected.
In-flight Wi-Fi often comes with a high price tag. This is despite consumers' expectation that it's should be free almost everywhere else. For years, airlines have been trying to address their Wi-Fi issues by employing different technologies and business models.
One airline that has long been offering free internet during flights is JetBlue Airways. The offering is backed by corporate sponsorships.
Next year, Hawaiian Airlines is planning to start offering free in-flight internet on its long-haul fleet using Starlink, the satellite broadband service of SpaceX.
Meanwhile, United Airlines offers the service for $10, and $8 for members of its frequent-flier program on domestic US flights as well as short-haul international trips.
On the other hand, American Airlines Group has been conducting tests. They are offering a sample of free Wi-Fi for customers who are willing to watch a short ad.
Still, Southwest Airlines offers Wi-Fi for $8 a day. The company is also upgrading its internet equipment.
According to the airline, they performed a "controlled pressure test" of free internet on certain flights in order to check how the system worked with as many users as possible.
Given this competition, providing internet access to travelers has been a priority for Delta. The airline has aimed to position itself as a more high-end airline having premium features.
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