Hello again! I know many of you have been hungering for the latest information on Delta’s Wi-Fi installs so let’s get right to it…
As of this week, Delta has completed 73% of the domestic mainline fleet. Breaking it down, we’ve installed Wi-Fi on 383 of 528 aircraft, further cementing Delta’s status as the airline with the world’s largest Wi-Fi-equipped fleet.
Technicians are averaging two installations per night and with just a handful of A319s left, they’ll quickly move on to multiple A320 installations each night. I know everyone in DTW, MEM and MSP are excited about that news!
Our goal for completing the entire domestic mainline fleet is summer 2010.
Completed Fleets:
MD88: 117
MD-90: 16
B737-700: 10
B737-800: 71
B767-300 (non-ETOPS birds): 10
Fleets in Progress:
A319: 34
A320: 3
B757-200: 120
B757-300: 1 (Deactivated pending certification)
DC9-50: 1 A/C (Deactivated pending certification)
Have a great weekend and I’ll make sure to update the stats bi-weekly.
Chris B.
Sr. Product Manager, IFE
February 26th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Chris, this sounds great, congrats on the progress. Quick question – on the longer A319/320 flights (LGA-MSP, MSP-ANC, etc) with no in seat power some laptops will most likely only be able to support internet for part of the flight. Are there any plans to install power outlets?
February 27th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Alternate Plans for Santiago Chile Airport?
February 27th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thank you Chris for updating!
Are you guys not installing wifi on the ETOPS 763′s? Makes sense…
Had a 3rd wifi flight on Monday, looking for a confirmed 4th flight and most likely a 5th wifi flight (mad dog and 757) next month!
If you could update a bit more often it would be great!
And any discounts on wifi for skymiles members?
Thanks,
Tim
February 27th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Great news that this will be more available on the pre-merger NWA planes… this is a major benefit to us MSP fliers… thanks Delta. Another great benefit would be some sort of discount or free coupons for Medallion members to use. (Maybe similiar to drink coupons).
March 1st, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Adam91281…we are in the process of evaluating where we’ll be installing power ports across the fleet. More info to follow.
Anxious Dad…I don’t have an answer for you. The SCL airport remains closed due to major damage to the facility. Please call 1-800-221-1212 if you have questions about a particular Delta flight.
tjisnumbaone…we’re still evaluating installing Wi-Fi on the 4 domestic 767-300 ETOPS birds…they primarily fly Hawaii routes and are over water for about half the flight, meaning Wi-Fi is not available.
frcMSP…what’s your Medallion status…Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond? I think coupons good for complimentary Wi-Fi may be a part of the future benefits package…I’ll confirm and post once I receive the info.
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:03 am
The gogo website recently had a race game where you could win free WiFi, I played the game and won so I will get to test drive the WiFi on my 738 flight from KATL-KPBI on Monday. I am hoping that my A320 flight from KPBI-KDTW next Thursday will also be WiFi equipped.
March 4th, 2010 at 12:11 am
This is especially important for those of us that are flying to SXSW out of Atlanta! I can start blogging about the entire experience from the plane!
March 8th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Chris – I am a Gold Medallion
March 9th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Tryed it on my flight yesterday with my iPod and loved it. I was able to send my sister an email form 33,000 feet and tell her that it was -66 outside;) I am hopeng that my A320 flight on Thursday will have it, with only ~3 320s done as of the last update though I know my chances are not great.
I should point out though that this is a servace that I would not use on a regular bases because the merical of flight is enough entainment for me.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
I am scheduled via an online travel agency on an international flight that will use a 767-400. You don’t mention the 767-400, per se, in your blog.
Is there someplace I can go to find out about this Delta airplane? Is it also called a 764?
March 11th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Chris: Thanks for the update and all your good work. I noticed that the DC9-50 is on your list. I think this is the first time I’ve seen refrence to the DC9-50 getting Wifi. Can you confirm this and the timing to complete these planes?
Thank you!
March 11th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Soazjl,
Delta provides an overview of its aircraft types (and their layout) at http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/aircraft_types_layout/index.jsp.
You can find two variants of the 767-400ER.
Yes, the 767-400s are also called 764s.
These birds are not mentioned in this blog entry because they fly international routes so that wifi onboard does not make sense (no signal).
The website http://www.seatguru.com also provides some information about the aircraft.
Hope this helps.
March 11th, 2010 at 10:41 am
I am palnning my trip from Bermud to Boston om March 31, 2010 by
Delta 507 (Boeing 737-800) and Delta 508 (Boeing 737-800) on Apr 5th . Do you know if GoGo Wi-Fi will be available?
Thank you,
Vlad
March 11th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Quick Question, You Guys have 10 767-300 Non ETOPS planes with wifi… Are these LAX/SFO-JFK planes? Or should I rebook my next ticket on a 757 haha
March 12th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Unbelievable that this technology took ten years to make it to flights!
I used this from SLC to Philadelphia, it was truly fast! I worked for two hours until my battery died. Then i used my iPhone to check and send emails!
This technology has me rethinking everything.
I will fly more, as my time is far more productive
I will fly first class more to give myself more space to work
I will check my flight for wifi before I reserve my ticket
I won’t fly without wifi unless I have no other choice
It was so cool, I was furious at the politicians, blue suits, or power tripping scientists that blocked this from happening sooner.
March 12th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
What do those numbers next to plane types mean? I’m on Flight # DL 2368 next week, how can I tell if it will have WiFi? I know it’s an A319 which is marked as in progress.
March 22nd, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Any chance you will revisit the decision to not equip the RJ’s? I know those are affilaite carriers (except COMAIR). But they are being used more frequently these days. For example, I have 7 flights this week, 2 are on RJs.
March 30th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Chris,
Any chance the MEM A320 will have Wi-Fi by Thuhrsday 4/1? Looks like it was close back on Feb 26th.
Thank you.
Mike
March 30th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Hey, Chris! How about an update? Thanks, -Matt
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:14 am
Any news on certification for the 777 LR. I fly regularly from Sydney to Hotlanta on DL16….be nice If I could hook in once airborne from LAX to ATL.
Bummed me out the LR’s didn’t have it last time…hope that changed before xmas.
April 2nd, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Is there free wi-fi in first class on any flights?
July 25th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Any talk about getting free wifi at DTW?
September 6th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
I ended up taking my international flight last March and found that the wifi from Tucson to Minneapolis was enjoyable, and the lack of wifi from Minneapolis to London was painful. Delta appears to have committed to a wifi technology that only works from ground-based signals, meaning it won’t work as the plane goes over the ocean. Why did they do this?
To some of us, loss of internet connectivity over the course of a 5-10 hour flight is worse thing than loss of connectivity for a flight of a few hours. Therefore, if given a choice, I’d choose internet on an overseas flight rather than on a shorter domestic flight.
I’ve identified at least one competitor that appears to offer internet on overseas flights (via satellite I think) so going forward I’ll prioritize that airline for all international travel, if I can get decent prices. For domestic, I will consider using Delta, among others.
The internet did seem to work fairly well on the two or three Delta domestic flights I’ve taken with it.
jl
September 6th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
PS: Maybe the overseas flights could be equipped for those wifi portions that take place over the mainland US?
Ultimately, I do hope Delta will consider adding wifi that works over the ocean for those of its planes that fly away from the land-based network they have committed to.