Delta expands free Wi-Fi on international flights

Delta’s rollout of free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on international flights is already underway, and the airline plans to introduce the service on most long-haul flights to Europe by the end of 2024 and on its trans-Pacific routes by the end of 2025.

After offering free Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members on most domestic flights for the past year and a half, Delta announced Monday that it began rolling it out on some long-haul flights to Europe last month, starting on routes to Paris (CDG) and Nice (NCE) from all of its U.S. hubs.

Next, Delta plans to introduce free Wi-Fi on flights to the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy in August, according to a press release, followed by 10 more European destinations in September. South American routes to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru will get free Wi-Fi in October, and Hawaii flights are scheduled for a similar period in October. This winter, free Wi-Fi will be introduced on flights to Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, followed by flights to Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in mid- to late 2025.

First, Delta explains that travelers will not need a SkyMiles account to access free Wi-Fi on Delta international flights until the end of this year.

Delta made a big splash when it became the first of the four major U.S. airlines to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi, but the rollout of free Wi-Fi has been slow due to a satellite problem in 2023.

As of Monday, Delta’s free Viasat Wi-Fi is available on nearly 700 aircraft, including more than 90% of Delta’s domestic core fleet (excluding Delta Connection flights). Delta also announced that it expects to install free Wi-Fi on its regional routes by 2025, including on its aging Boeing 717 aircraft.

After months of testing, Delta introduced free Wi-Fi on domestic flights in February 2023. You’ll need a SkyMiles account to get online, but it’s free to sign up—and you can even log in mid-flight to take advantage of free internet. In our experience, it lives up to the hype and sets a standard for the future of the airline industry. In the U.S., only JetBlue also offers free in-flight connectivity.

Although Delta touts free internet, many travelers are surprised to see that there is a fee for internet access on board their plane. That’s because this super-fast and free service depends on the Wi-Fi provider Viasat… and not every Delta jet is equipped with Viasat yet.

Saving tip: To find out if your Delta flight offers free in-flight internet, look for the “Free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles Members” sign when you book your trip, or just look for a sign when you board. This only applies to domestic flights, though. You won’t see this sign on international flights yet, including the flights already in operation to Paris and Nice.

Delta recommends checking your email and notifications in the Fly Delta app before departure to see if free inflight Wi-Fi is available on your upcoming international flight, or visit Delta’s website.

Conclusion

Delta now has a timeline for the launch of its international free Wi-Fi, with the first flights to Europe with free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members starting as early as August of this year.

The rollout of free Wi-Fi across Delta’s network is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with Wi-Fi available on most long-haul flights to Europe by the end of 2024.