Today is an appropriate day to post a Wi-Fi update as this is the first anniversary of Aircell’s inflight Wi-Fi launch. It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished together. From our announcement last summer, we’ve scoped out 10 different aircraft types and installed the Wi-Fi system on 227 planes.
As of this update Delta has installed Wi-Fi on more than 70% of the domestic mainline fleet. Congrats to everyone at Aircell for what you’ve done in partnership with Delta so far! And looking ahead, it’s going to be an exciting 2010 as we continue the Wi-Fi installations across the remainder of the domestic mainline fleet.
So let’s get into the meat of today’s update…
On the pre-merger Delta side of the airline STC issuance for the 767-300 is scheduled for 8/24. The 737-700 prototype is set for the first half of September. Paperwork and parts for the 757 ETOPS prototype will be ready by 9/25.
On the pre-merger Northwest side of the airline, the design phase for A319 and A320 fleets have been completed. Prototypes go in for mod 10/1 and 10/19, respectively, in MSP. Final Design Review for the B757-300 is scheduled for 8/27 in Itasca with the prototype entering mod 11/1 in MSP. Preliminary Design Review for B757-200 is scheduled for 8/18 in MSP. Critical Design Review for DC9-50 is scheduled for 10/8 in MSP.
Fleet Deets:
MD88: 117 A/C
MD90: 16 A/C
B737-800: 1 A/C (awaiting STC)
B757-200: 92 A/C
B767-300: 1 A/C (awaiting STC)
MD88 Tail Numbers: ALL
MD90 Tail Numbers: ALL
B737-800 Tail Number: 3742
B757-200 Tail Numbers : 602-603, 608-610, 614-615, 617, 619, 621, 623, 625-634, 636-641, 644-645, 647-656, 663-674, 676-679, 681, 683-685, 687-699, 6700-6717, 6902, 6904.
B767 Tail Number: 138
I also wanted to share some interesting insight from Forrester Research regarding inflight Internet access.
In 2005, Forrester identified that one-fifth of passengers were interested in accessing the Internet on any flight. In the fourth quarter of 2007, nearly as many passengers — 17% — expressed interest in accessing the Web on a 1-hour flight.
By Q4 2008, amidst one of the deepest recessions in modern America, 22% of travelers said they were interested in accessing the Web on flights of just an hour. Inflight Internet access is as essential to the 21st century airline experience as the beverage cart…that is valued by today’s tech-focused travelers.
What do you think? Do you value inflight Internet access? Is it an essential work tool and/or an entertainment option? We’d love to hear what you think.
Have a great weekend!
Chris B.
Sr. Product Manager
In-Flight Entertainment
August 20th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Chris,
I’m a big proponent of inflight WiFi with the monthly passes as many of my flights are from MCO which means an hour to ATL and then whatever time from there on. As it rolls out across the fleet more I will surely buy it more.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I’m just waiting for it to make its way to the NWA fleet. I definitely look forward to having it on the 3-4hr flights I take multiple times a year to school and back. I only wish it was rolling out faster!
August 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I do a lot of transcon flights – and wi-fi is WONDERFUL. I can IM with my office in Seattle while I’m still in flight and they think I’m sitting at my desk in Atlanta.
So the one problem I have now is battery life: I carry two batteries with me, which (pre-wi-fi) would get me 4-4.5 hours. But with wi-fi, my batterly life is back down to 3 hrs.
A lot of the Delta fleet has in-seat power plugs – but they are never turned on! Flight attendants have no idea how to turn them on. What is the “magic phrase” that would get them to turn on the power?
August 20th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I definitely desire to access the Internet while on a flight. I’ve done so already on a few flights, or more specifically I’ve accessed http://www.Delta.com.
But my employers (i.e. the one who will pay you) has already nixed paying for Internet in hotel rooms, I can only imagine turning in a receipt for $50 or more each month. Oh, and by the way, when you calculate your flight times, you seem to forget the landing and take-off portions of the flight which makes using the Internet during a 1.5 flight basically nothing more than syncing my email.
The Mobile Flight Pass pricing is a little tacky in my book. I’m not sure who came up with the bright idea that watching a movie on an iPhone should be cheaper than checking my email on a computer.
If you want users to use this, then I’d be looking at something more akin to $1 per hour and $20 flat rate, that I might actually get my employer to pay for.
BTW, If Internet access is included with an overproced sandwich, I can hide the expense
August 21st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I love the service. Great job!! Could use give us more specifics on the 737′s? This statement “The 737-700 prototype is set for the first half of September” doesn’t really tell me much more than you are working on them. Can you tell me when we will start to see 737′s with the service and appx when all 737′s will be finished? Thank you!
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Chris,
Great service and use it frequently. With more and more 757s enabled it has been great. Last night (8/21/09) on ship 667, Flt 1528 ATL – RDU there was no gogo, the SSID was not broadcasting but it appears 667 should have it. Temporary problem?
I have found that having both my wifi enabled Blackberry and my laptop connected has many advantages. Any thoughts on allowing the $50 monthly plan to have two devices connected at the same time? That would be all it takes to ensure I buy it every month.
Thanks.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
I tracked my flight from ATL to STT last week and eventually lost service while we were approx. over Nassau @ 39,000′. On the way back coverage began well off the coast near PBI.
I thought the coverage maps provided by aircell might be overstated but in this case were completly accurate. Great job!
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
As a recreational flier, I definitely found the wifi helped pass the time faster and made my last delta flight much more enjoyable, and is something I would continue to purchase every flight but ONLY if the price is inexpensive for occasional one time use (and at that I really only want to use the internet for an hour, maybe two tops); not being a business traveler I don’t get the luxury of having someone else pay for my wifi!
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
The need for WiFi must be confined to urban elites. I just cannot see Delta wasting so much effort on another toy! Of course, it is the best ploy they have to sink deeper into our checkbooks (until they start charging for the peanuts and cart sodas). What can possibly be worth doing online, cramped in the air, that couldn’t wait a little longer. If it is that important, why are you wasting time traveling in the first place?
August 24th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Deltadawg – I initially thought everything could wait as well, but having used several times I am now convinced otherwise.
Since not all planes have in flight entertainment (video screens), it helps to pass the time even on shorter hops. As a business user it is well worth it to deal with a few issues and close a deal or two so that when I land I don’t have to work until midnight at a hotel.
Delta doesn’t require that you buy it (unlike baggage fees) and haven’t raised ticket prices to support it so if you don’t need or want it, don’t buy it. That is what is good about the current pricing model – those who could care less are not forced to pay for it, those that can benefit from it pay the cost of it.
August 25th, 2009 at 11:06 am
[...] You’ll notice that these numbers look WAY different from what the airlines tell you. For example, Delta just announced that it was north of 70% but I’m showing 16%. What gives? Well, Delta has it installed on 70% of the pre-merger mainline fleet. In this number, I’ve included the Northwest fleet and the vast fleet of Delta Connection regional jets and props that have no wifi at all. While the regional fleet probably won’t see wifi, the first Northwest aircraft goes in for modification on 10/1. [...]
August 25th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
With a couple of transcons coming up this fall, I’m looking forward to trying WiFi out on those flights. What a pity, though, that WiFi is only being implemented for domestic Ops. Later on this year I have a couple of TPACs scheduled, and I would so appreciate WiFi on those long flights. Is there no way to provide a satellite-provider WiFi for TATL/TPAC Ops?
Maybe I’m wishing outside the box, but DL has pleased me outside the box before!
August 26th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
[...] Gogo In Flight on its Airbus 321s on selected routes. Delta announced on Thursday that it has installed wi-fi on 70% of its domestic mainline fleet. The designs for installation on the A320 and A319 [...]
September 5th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I received a code for free wifi for the month of August. Unfortunately, while I traveled every week that month (including trips to San Francisco and Phoenix), only one of the flights (an Atlanta to Boston leg) had the service. I did fly the Boston-NY shuttle a number of times, but I don’t count that, as there’s not a lot of time to get online.
I would suggest that Delta do another promo for Platinum customers when more of the fleet has the service. I would also recommend a wifi benefit for Platinum (and/or future Diamond customers). Free wifi would be a great reward at a low cost for customer loyalty.
September 7th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I will be glad when the entire fleet is equipped! I bought the monthly pass but so far only 2 out of 7 flights had the equipment. I gambled on flights from SLC to PHL on having the equipment but we didn’t even have in seat video. Oh well…I’m impressed as to how fast the equipment is being equipped! Maybe next month will be better for me.
September 7th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Just curious….how long does it take to equip a plane with Wi-fi? Overnight or several days?