On May 13, Delta will launch a two-week pilot to make free inflight Wi-Fi a brand standard. The test will run on 55 domestic flights on aircraft equipped with high-speed 2Ku Wi-Fi. It will not support content streaming but will enable passengers to check email, post on social media and browse the internet. The segments will vary daily, and customers aboard flights with free Wi-Fi will be notified via email and the Delta app prior to the flight.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian has said for several years that airline Wi-Fi should be a free amenity but that he wanted to ensure the quality was up to par before taking that step. Delta director of onboard product Ekrem Dimbiloglu said free Wi-Fi across the fleet will take several test phases. "As with any test in uncharted territory, Delta will rely heavily on customer and employee feedback to navigate how to best make free in-flight Wi-Fi a reality," he said.