Delta unveils high-speed Wi-Fi for regional jets, updates free internet rollout
Staying connected when flying with Delta Air Lines and its regional partners is about to get easier, faster and more reliable than ever.
That's thanks to a new partnership unveiled on Wednesday between Delta and Hughes Network Systems, which will see the installation of high-speed satellite connectivity on more than 400 Delta Boeing 717s and regional jets operating in North America. (Note that the CRJ-200 won't receive these Wi-Fi upgrades because those jets are being phased out.)
This new satellite antenna and radome that will be installed on Delta's smallest jets will connect to Ka-band satellites and offer high-speed gate-to-gate connectivity, the airline says.
Delta is expected to begin the initial installations of the new Hughes internet service in mid-2024, with the full rollout complete by the end of next year.
Outfitting regional jets with speedy and reliable internet access has been a challenge for airlines over the years. That's partly due to the size and weight of the antennas needed to connect to satellites in the sky.
Larger airplanes with wider fuselages don't have this problem, but the smaller jets have typically been relegated to sub-par connectivity options, such as the air-to-ground network powered by Gogo Business Aviation.
Aside from the fact that this service is only active when above 10,000 feet, it also requires sending packets of data to towers on the ground, which is considerably slower than the far more reliable satellite connectivity options.
One option that's become increasingly popular in recent years has been SpaceX's Starlink internet service, which offers download speeds of up to 350 megabits per second — fast enough to support gaming, VPN access, streaming and much more.
Starlink has become increasingly popular as an inflight internet provider in recent years, with commitments or installations underway at airlines as large as Qatar and as small as airBaltic.
U.S. air carrier JSX became the first to offer Elon Musk's internet service, which offers a radome that's small enough to fit atop JSX's Embraer regional jets.
Go long: Delta adds 4 new — and longest — LaGuardia routes
Earlier this year, Delta formally unveiled fast and free Wi-Fi across its mainline fleet, which is also in the process of being upgraded to a more reliable Wi-Fi provider, Viasat.
All you need is a SkyMiles membership, and once you log in to your account, you'll be connected to the speedy Wi-Fi.
As part of the free Wi-Fi rollout, Delta also recently unveiled a new landing page for the internet service, dubbed Delta Sync, that delivers personalized recommendations for your trips based on your preferences and destination.
“Delta is committed to delivering a reliable Wi-Fi experience to all our passengers, including those flying on our regional carriers,” Glenn Latta, Delta's managing director of inflight entertainment and connectivity, said in a statement.
Delta's free Wi-Fi rollout status
Delta reaffirmed that it will bring fast, free Wi-Fi to the entire fleet by the end of 2024. For now, here are the jets that already offer free Wi-Fi provided by Viasat:
- Airbus A220-300 (some planes)
- Airbus A319
- Airbus A320
- Airbus A321
- Airbus A321neo
- Airbus A350 (some planes)
- Boeing 737-800
- Boeing 737-900
- Boeing 757-200
The following planes are still outfitted with Wi-Fi Onboard service, which was formerly known as Gogo, but they will receive the Viasat antennas by the end of next year:
- Airbus A220-100
- Airbus A220-300 (some planes)
- Airbus A330-200
- Airbus A330-300
- Airbus A330-900
- Airbus A350-900 (some planes)
- Boeing 757-300
- Boeing 767-300
- Boeing 767-400
The following planes are currently outfitted with Wi-Fi Onboard service (formerly Gogo), but they will receive the Hughes Wi-Fi service by the end of next year:
- Boeing 717-200
- Bombardier CRJ-700
- Bombardier CRJ-900
- Embraer E170
- Embraer E175
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.