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Delta Aims to Provide Free Inflight Wi-Fi in 1 or 2 Years

Darren Murph
Darren Murph
Senior Strategist/Writer
Darren holds the Guinness World Record as the planet's most prolific professional blogger, a feat he achieved in 2010. He's a seasoned storyteller, instructor and communicator, working across marketing, editorial and public relations for some of the world's most progressive brands. He's an explorer at heart, having traversed nearly 50 countries and all 50 US states. He's flown over one million miles on Delta alone, and takes pride in facilitating unforgettable excursions using points and miles.
March 13, 2019
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2 min read
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Delta Aims to Provide Free Inflight Wi-Fi in 1 or 2 Years
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Delta CEO Ed Bastian hasn't been shy about sharing his feelings on inflight Wi-Fi. He wants it to be fast, and he wants it to be free. He's been saying as much for several years now with little substance in the way of how or when, but all of that changed this week.

In an interview with Barron's, Bastian stated: "Our goal is to make Wi-Fi free with high-speed quality. It will take another year or two to make that happen." That's the first tangible mention of a timeline to Bastian's plan. If he has his druthers, Delta's fleet of Gogo-equipped birds will offer gratis connections by 2021.

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But, why? Of all the things that Delta could make free — checked luggage, Sky Club access, Woodford Reserve for coach passengers — how did Wi-Fi make the cut? And, given that Delta doesn't own the company that makes that magic happen (Gogo), how does it intend to guarantee such a claim?

Those pertinent details remain a secret, but free (and fast) Wi-Fi does fit with Delta's brand ambitions. The airline has made huge strides in on-time performance and is pulling ahead on customer service as well. As it looks to woo big-spending business travelers, it's apt to win more corporate contracts if it can enter negotiations with a promise to have free Wi-Fi across its fleet.

How this impacts Gogo, or how it'll be compensated if it doesn't charge per passenger, is yet another mystery.

Currently, the only domestic airline offering free inflight Wi-Fi is JetBlue.

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H/T: View From The Wing