Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training & Events
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Barbara Peterson
    • Brian Israel
    • Daine Taylor
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Jessica Montevago
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Mary Gostelow
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Steve Gillick

Delta Air Lines Positions Itself for a Free Inflight WiFi Future

by Daniel McCarthy / January 05, 2021
Delta Air Lines Positions Itself for a Free Inflight WiFi Future

Photo: Delta Air Lines. 


On Tuesday, Delta Air Lines announced that it would adding a new inflight WiFi provider, Viasat, and launching a new Delta WiFi access portal with a new interface, as it continues to take steps to improve its customer experience even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The switch will be made during the summer, with Viasat installation coinciding with the delivery of new aircraft to the Delta fleet as it continues to pair the right WiFi provider (Delta’s previous provider was Gogo) with the right aircraft.

While Delta said that the move would improve customer experience inflight with higher speed and better capability onboard, including better streaming and more personalized content in the in-flight entertainment options, it also continues Delta’s mission of delivering free WiFi in the future. Something that is now becoming a very real possibility for the carrier.

“We are committed to delivering Free WiFi in the future, and this is a significant step on that journey,” Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Delta’s director of brand experience for in-flight entertainment said in a Q&A announcing the news.

Delta had been looking toward a future of free inflight WiFi for a while now. Delta CEO Ed Bastion specifically mentioned the possibility during his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) last year, explaining that Delta was looking at the possibility of offering it sometime over the next couple of years.

Delta had also teased the offering with a two-week testing program that it launched in May 2019, a program that saw around 55 domestic flights operate with free WiFi to test capabilities onboard.

Now, with the new Viasat system, Delta will look to continue working toward that goal. The carrier said it will continue to test how it can best adopt to free WiFi flights—Dimbiloglu, in the Q&A, said that “delivering Free WiFi that is high-quality and streaming capable requires thorough testing to ensure our technology can handle the demand.”

But Delta’s “vision for the future of travel will not come to life overnight.” The carrier expects the move to take time, with the process from approvals to testing to implementation often taking several months.

Delta said it has even more plans in development and will share details soon.

  33
  0

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. Israel Looks Ahead to Reopening for Tourism
  2. Travelers to Quintana Roo Will Soon Have to Pay Tourist Tax
  3. CDC: Vaccinated People Can Now Travel Without Testing or Quarantining
  4. Greece Will Welcome Travelers Again Starting on May 14
  5. CDC: U.S. Cruises Could Resume by Mid-Summer with Restrictions
  6. American Express Discontinues Non-Franchise Travel Associate Platform

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. CDC: Vaccinated People Can Now Travel Without Testing or Quarantining
  2. Travelers to Quintana Roo Will Soon Have to Pay Tourist Tax
  3. Greece Will Welcome Travelers Again Starting on May 14
  4. Allianz Adds ‘Epidemic’ Coverage to its Travel Insurance Policies
  5. Travel Advisors Add Fees, Urge Clients to Purchase Insurance
  6. NCLH Submits Plan to CDC, Will Require All Guests to Be Vaccinated
Tip of the Day

I think being in contact with [my clients] gave them more confidence in me and the suggestions I offer.

Linda Kinsey, Custom Travel & Cruise

 Share...
Daily Top List
Brought To You By

5 Things Every Travel Agency Should Do To Boost Business

1. Specialize
2. Give a personal touch
3. Find your niche and sell an experience
4. Maintain a high standard of quality
5. Become a salesman…but inspire trust

Source: Azavista.com

 Share...
Previous Daily Top List
Riviera
TMR Recommendations
Sandals
Sandals® Grande Antigua Resort & Spa – The World’s Most Romantic Resort
hbar
KNTO
Learn about Korea's amazing 5,000 year tradition, history and culture. Become a Korea Travel Specialist!
hbar
Top Stories
Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort to Open June 4
Avengers Campus at Disneyland Resort to Open June 4

The new land will be dedicated to Marvel’s superheroes.

Read...
California Aims to Fully Reopen by June 15
California Aims to Fully Reopen by June 15

Restaurants, bars and gyms will open at full capacity after more than a year of restrictions.

Read...
Air Canada’s Deal to Buy Transat Is Off
Air Canada’s Deal to Buy Transat Is Off

Air Canada’s $520 CAD deal to buy Transat is off.

Read...
Travel Industry Reacts to New CDC Travel Guidance
Travel Industry Reacts to New CDC Travel Guidance

'Acknowledging that vaccinations eliminate the need for testing and quarantines removes a key barrier to domestic travel.'

Read...
CDC: Vaccinated People Can Now Travel Domestically Without Testing or Quarantining
CDC: Vaccinated People Can Now Travel Domestically Without Testing or Quarantining

Returning international travelers will still require a test. 

Read...
American Airlines Opens Quarantine-Free Travel Corridor from New York to Italy
American Airlines Opens Quarantine-Free Travel Corridor from New York to Italy

American is giving those traveling from New York to Milan and Rome the chance to do so without having to quarantine upon arrival. 

Read...
News Briefs
  • British Virgin Islands Takes Roadshow Virtual
  • Eastern Airlines Expands Service to Latin America
  • Barbados Teams with At-Home COVID Test Company
  • Lonely Planet Unveils Best in Travel Picks for 2021
  • Disneyland Paris to Close After France Announces Lockdown
  • The British Virgin Islands Update Travel Advisors on Reopening
TMR Outlooks
Expedition 2020
Wellness Outlook
Distribution Outlook
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/-FN5SliZm8E/0.jpg
Video: How Will Advisor Commission and Supplier Compensation Change?
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
243 South Street, OysterBay, NY, 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2021 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy