Hello everyone…I apologize that it’s been so long since my last comprehensive Wi-Fi update. I’ve been doing a lot of traveling for work lately and a lot of the Wi-Fi activity has been focused on pre-installation activities. But things have picked up again and we’ve got a ton of cool stuff to share…

As of this update Delta has installed Wi-Fi on more than 51% of the combined (pre-merger Delta + Northwest) domestic mainline fleet, which is a total of 269 out of 520 planes. We’ve completed the MD88 and MD90 fleets and have recently ramped up installations across the 757-200 and 737-800 fleets. Engineering teams are on track to cross the 300 aircraft mark by the end of 2009.

Over the past month we’ve also installed Wi-Fi on three additional aircraft types…the A319, A320 and 757-300. We’re still awaiting the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for these three types but expect them to be operational in December.

The really BIG news, however, is that we’re teaming up with eBay to provide complimentary access to every customer on every Wi-Fi-enabled flight from Nov. 24-30. It’s a win-win-win partnership in that our customers get free access, eBay is able to reach an entirely new audience and we’re able to build awareness about the Wi-Fi product via a new channel.

In fact, we expect more than 1 million customers will be able to benefit from the promotion during Thanksgiving week (just enter the promo code EBAYWIFI). That’s a lot of people doing their holiday shopping on eBay, sending instant messages and updating Facebook…all while 7 miles up and speeding through the sky at 530 mph!

Given the amount of engineering and scheduling work that’s gone into scoping and installing Wi-Fi on 9 different aircraft types and nearly 300 planes, it’s pretty amazing that in less than one year we’ve gone from zero planes with Wi-Fi to the world’s largest Wi-Fi-enabled fleet and the most expansive Wi-Fi network in the sky…and that’s all due to the outstanding work of our Engineering teams and partners at Aircell.

I’d love to hear your feedback about your Wi-Fi experiences on Delta. I’ll be traveling during over the holidays (NRT-SGN-BKK-SIN-MNL) but will post the next update during the first week of December. Until then, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

MD88: 117 A/C (All)

M90: 16 A/C (All)

B737-700: 1 A/C

B737-800: 24 A/C

B757: 103 A/C

B753: 1 A/C (Awaiting STC)

B767: 5 A/C

A319: 1 A/C (Awaiting STC)

A320: 1 A/C (Awaiting STC)

Chris B., Sr Product Manager, IFE

*Offers subject to change. Use of the Gogo service is subject to terms of use available at gogoinflight.com.

During the peak summer season, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) averages 102,976 passengers per day. For baseball fans, that’s enough to fill up Turner Field twice or the Los Angeles Coliseum once. There are approximately 1,054 flights daily from Atlanta, and the airport boards more passengers and baggage daily than MSP, MEM and DTW, three of our largest hubs, combined.

These are just a few of the interesting tidbits we learned after we toured Delta’s operation at the Atlanta Airport a few weeks ago. As two Delta newbies, we jumped at the chance to learn about our new company by spending an afternoon at ATL, Delta’s largest hub.

Our tour began with a visit to the International and Domestic check-in area, where we learned that 22,000 to 26,000 passengers use 123 ticket counters and 92 self-service kiosks to begin their journey every day.

After our tour of check-in, we hopped into an airport vehicle on our way to explore the intricate baggage system below the airport terminals. On our way over, we had the rare opportunity to view a Boeing 757 through the front windshield of the car (we were secretly hoping the plane would slow down for our viewing pleasure). About 87 pictures later, we arrived at the sprawling baggage operation, where we explored the belts and carts that transfer about 90,000 bags each day.

Then we wandered into the tarmac, where we got an inside look at an MD-88 that was preparing for departure to Washington, DC. After sticking our heads into the baggage compartment and exploring the different parts of the wing and wheel, we realized that we actually had a large audience for this part of our tour- a fully loaded MD-80 with plenty of curious faces.

We finished up our day with a visit to the Delta ground control tower and instantly became jealous of the people who get to call that tower- and the view from it- their office. To cope, we resorted to posting pictures of the view to our cubicle walls, though it’s not quite the same.

We learned a lot about the world’s largest airport during the few hours we spent at ATL. But most of all, we learned about the many moving parts that work in-sync each and every day to make Delta the world’s greatest airline. And that’s something every passenger- and every Delta newbie- should know.

Rachel Welford and Trebor Banstetter
Corporate Communications

Whether you live in Boston, New York or Washington, chances are you’ve flown on The Delta Shuttle. If you’ve flown recently, I’m sure you’ve noticed a few changes including a conversion to two-class aircraft and the introduction of the Embraer E-175 on all services between NY- LaGuardia and Washington – Reagan. As much as those things have changed, one key element of the shuttle experience has not… easy to remember and very convenient hourly departures.

And if you’re starting or ending your Shuttle journey in New York, you can enjoy the uncrowded, uncomplicated Marine Air Terminal where all Boston and Washington shuttle flights arrive and depart from.

If you’ve traveled with us on The Shuttle, how’d we do? Why do you “Shuttle”? What is it about the Shuttle that’s valuable to you? Convenient schedules? The convenient location of our shuttle gates? Services offered? PowerStop at LaGuardia? The ability to buy your Shuttle ticket at one of our ticketing kiosks? What should we consider to make it better or faster for you?

Jeff Coons
Manager – Ground and Shuttle Customer Experience