Delta Free Wi-Fi On International Flights: Rollout Schedule

Delta Free Wi-Fi On International Flights: Rollout Schedule

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In the past few years, Delta has been investing in improving its inflight Wi-Fi, with the goal of eventually offering free Wi-Fi throughout the fleet, in partnership with T-Mobile. The airline started rolling out free Wi-Fi in early 2023. While a vast majority of the domestic fleet now has free Wi-Fi, there’s still a lot of work to be done on long haul, international flights.

The airline has now shared a positive update when it comes to free Wi-Fi on international flights, and has provided an updated timeline about what we can still expect.

Delta international flights will have free Wi-Fi by 2026

Delta has slowly started introducing free Wi-Fi on international, wide body aircraft that are equipped with a Viasat system. Wi-Fi is rolling out on Viasat-equipped international aircraft between July 2024 and 2026, with the availability of the service varying by route. Specifically, here’s the progress with free Wi-Fi on Viasat equipped aircraft:

  • The exciting update is that as of now (early April 2025), Delta is offering free Wi-Fi on all routes between the United States and Europe, Israel, and West Africa
  • Delta expects to offer free Wi-Fi on routes to South America as of late spring 2025
  • Delta expects to offer free Wi-Fi on routes to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, by some point in 2026

The airline of course notes that this schedule is subject to change based on the aircraft installation schedule, and also based on testing and satellite availability.

Furthermore, during this transition period, there are some coverage gaps where Wi-Fi is not available until additional satellites are positioned to provide full coverage. Some aircraft have a paid Intelsat Wi-Fi experience until these additional satellites are in service, and these aircraft are outfitted with upgraded satellite Wi-Fi.

Free Wi-Fi is being rolled out on Delta international flights

Delta is behind schedule with free Wi-Fi rollout

It’s nice that Delta is finally offering free Wi-Fi on nearly all transatlantic routes, including to Europe, Israel, and West Africa. That’s a positive development. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done, and Delta is way behind schedule.

For example, in mid-2023, Delta stated it planned to have free Wi-Fi on all international flights by the end of 2024. It looks like best case scenario, we can now expect that to be complete by some point in 2026. However, even that isn’t a sure bet. So we’re looking at a delay of roughly two years, and it could get worse.

Admittedly delays do happen with projects like these, so that’s hardly surprising. I commend Delta for undertaking this project, as it’s no small task. Delta isn’t alone in investing in Wi-Fi, as United is rolling out Starlink Wi-Fi fleetwide.

Delta is behind schedule on its Wi-Fi rollout

Bottom line

Delta has been working on introducing free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members. Currently over 90% of the domestic mainline fleet has free Wi-Fi. In recent months, Delta has been working on introducing free Wi-Fi on the international fleet.

You can now expect free Wi-Fi on flights between the United States and Europe, Israel, and West Africa. South America flights should get free Wi-Fi by some point this spring, while the remaining routes will get Wi-Fi by 2026.

What do you make of Delta’s Wi-Fi rollout for international flights?

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  1. Plane Jane Guest

    One day Delta will have high speed wifi on their planes.

    Due to their own choices, they don't globally or domestically.

    "free" is fun if you want to give delta your data. It isn't "free" when delta still lets you buy it on "free" flights to avoid giving delta your entire browsing history.

    3 more replies
  2. Eduardo_br Gold

    Got a pic of a acars message for you little irrelevant delusional Tim

    https://freeimage.host/i/35jPUJf

    4 more replies
  3. BZ Guest

    Good news that Delta is not partnering with the fascist owned Starlink.

  4. AeroB13a Guest

    Unfortunately gross ignorance rules this particular topic.
    It is such a shame that Ben is being used and his blog abused by revolting self proclaimed aviation geeks.
    Clearly they only post herein to disseminate their vile rhetoric towards their more knowledgeable betters.
    At times it has been amusing to belittle them, however, as they do not possess the intellect to recognise such, they are becoming so boring.

    5 more replies
  5. Jim Guest

    I was on DL to ICN a few weeks ago. They had "free wifi" but only in (roughly) North American airspace - once we got west of about Anchorage, no signal the rest of the way. (The crew did warn us of that when we boarded.)

    Ironically, on the way back, I had a 359 with "non-upgraded" WiFi (i.e. where you have to purchase and/or have a TMobile account), and that worked the whole way with no issues.

    9 more replies
  6. Plane Jane Guest

    Ben,
    Love ya. But "free" needs to be rephrased. Jetblue offers free wifi. Delta still charges for it unless you join SkyPesos and agree to give up all your data to be sold.

    That's "free" but it isn't in line with other carriers that provide better wifi today like AA and jetblue. AA for a charge. but their business model is NOT taking all your data as part of "free". I really think...

    Ben,
    Love ya. But "free" needs to be rephrased. Jetblue offers free wifi. Delta still charges for it unless you join SkyPesos and agree to give up all your data to be sold.

    That's "free" but it isn't in line with other carriers that provide better wifi today like AA and jetblue. AA for a charge. but their business model is NOT taking all your data as part of "free". I really think "free" should have a giant asterisk.

    Does Delta really need to know about your personal fetish? They seem to want to know about Tim Dunn's trip to the Atlanta Eagle to give free wifi.

    But again. It's good to reinforce that Delta does not have free wifi. They have limited wifi on some flights, never global, sometimes they have wifi, many times they have none on HUGE parts of their network, even domestic (per delta's own choices). Delta planned on their 717s having nothing for nearly a decade as part of their "free high speed wifi" knowing well that gogo would be the most they'd have, until 2026 (for now)

    AA has global wifi where I can stream netflix on EVERY mainline plane. Including flying DFW-AKL. They're far ahead of competitors on regionals on this front too. AA sucks at marketing but it is true. Delta advertises free wifi but they don't have it. United acts like they will have it but years away. Delta charges for it. Delta has wifi on some flights but, aside from the atlantic, limited wifi globally. United has "wifi" with promises years out of more. but nothing free today. and VERY little streaming today.

    I love your website ben, but advertising for "years from now" seems absurd when there's a reality today that people can stream on AA today. They can't globally on DL or UA.

    Let's evaluate wifi based on reality, not advertising to blogs.

    9 more replies
  7. Tim Dunn Diamond

    Delta, like American, has the Viasat solution for its longhaul WiFi fleet. They have had multiple delays in getting additional satellites in the sky and delivering the amount of WiFi capacity that were planned. DL's Pacific and S. Atlantic WiFi delays are for this reason.
    DL also signed a contract for Hughes WiFi for its remaining A350-900 deliveries which apparently says they are planning an out if Viasat can't deliver.
    And, before someone...

    Delta, like American, has the Viasat solution for its longhaul WiFi fleet. They have had multiple delays in getting additional satellites in the sky and delivering the amount of WiFi capacity that were planned. DL's Pacific and S. Atlantic WiFi delays are for this reason.
    DL also signed a contract for Hughes WiFi for its remaining A350-900 deliveries which apparently says they are planning an out if Viasat can't deliver.
    And, before someone touts the paid Wifi that other carriers have in regions where DL is not able to offer anything right now, airlines buy capacity from satellite providers. Even though they may use the same satellites as other carriers, if a WiFi provider can't provide the capacity, they can't move forward with any WiFi.

    DL is already installing WiFi on its 717s and its regional jets also using a Hughes solution.

    Delta still operates the world's largest fleet of aircraft equipped with free high speed WiFi and will have its entire fleet including regional jets completed years before any other airline reaches even a fraction of their fleet.

    3 more replies
  8. Icarus Guest

    Air France will introduce free starlink WiFi this year. Unfortunately it’s starlink whose fascist ceo has a name reminiscent of a 1970s underarm deodorant. KLM has no plans to follow as far as I am aware.

    7 more replies
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Eduardo_br Gold

Got a pic of a acars message for you little irrelevant delusional Tim https://freeimage.host/i/35jPUJf

2
Eskimo Guest

We know you are Tim Dunn's BA alter ego.

2
Eskimo Guest

Again, I'm flying TPAC not El Paso. And I can't use wifi at least half of the flight. Now use 9 paragraphs to argue with me on El Paso or other fluff and ignore ICN flights with no wifi. GO.

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