Delta Air Lines Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc. on Thursday said they are bringing free WiFi to most domestic flights in February and will expand the service to more than 700 aircraft by the end of 2023. The WiFi plan will be offered on international and regional routes by the end of 2024.
The free WiFi service, announced at the CES tech show, starts Feb. 1 for SkyMiles members, the airline said, and makes good on a vow made by Delta DAL,
Chief Executive Ed Bastian at CES three years ago to deliver such a service.
Read more: CES 2020: Delta promises free WiFi, looks to succeed where other airlines failed
“The ability to stay connected while seeing the world is simply foundational,” Bastian said in the statement, adding that the partnership with T-Mobile TMUS,
is an “exciting step forward” in making an “onboard experience that’s as comfortable and personalized as sitting in your own living room.”
JetBlue JBLU,
is currently the only major US airline to offer free wireless internet connectivity to all passengers.
In 2020, Bastian said in a CES keynote he wanted to bring “magic” back to air travel. His main promise, free WiFi on all flights, was part of an ambitious plan to digitize the flying experience with machine learning, robotics, free WiFi and texting, big-data analysis and “binge button” entertainment viewing.
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