Ten months since announcing fast, free Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile at CES 2023, Delta’s in-flight connectivity overhaul is at full throttle. Each day, more than 115,000 SkyMiles Members connect to Wi-Fi to stream, shop, email, message and more en route to their destinations — furthering Delta’s vision of connecting the skies.

The momentum will continue into 2024 as Delta announced a new partnership with Hughes to bring streaming-capable connectivity to its fleet of regional jets beginning mid-2024.

Today, more than 600 domestic mainline aircraft are equipped with fast, free Wi-Fi, and customers have logged more than 32 million streaming-quality sessions in the past year. When connecting to onboard Wi-Fi using their SkyMiles Membership, customers are also accessing Delta Sync, an exclusive portal with exciting offers like a free 24-hour streaming pass to Paramount+ and additional benefits that change the way they stream, game, explore and more while on board — creating new ways to enjoy the time spent on Delta.

Read on as Julieta McCurry, Delta’s V.P. of In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity, offers insights into what her team has learned since launch and previews what’s ahead in 2024.

More Than 600 Domestic Mainline Aircraft Have Free Wi-Fi Today. What Has Your Team Learned Since Ed’s Announcement at CES 2023?

JM: To call it a busy year would be an understatement, to say the least! We were confident customers would be happy about the announcement, but we could not have foreseen the impact that connectivity has had on their experience. Fast, free Wi-Fi ranks among the top three drivers of customer satisfaction on Delta—so much that it actually improves the entire onboard experience as a result. Customers value connection. And just like they would at home, they want the flexibility to spend their time in a way that suits them, and we’re proud to offer industry-leading experiences no matter their choice.

Direct customer and employee feedback alongside tireless scrutiny of the data has helped us hone our approach, too.  These insights help us ensure Delta Sync Wi-Fi brings customers closer to the elements of the experience they value most while offering exclusive ways to engage with brands they already know and love during their journey. I would also extend a huge thank you to our in-flight teams who have continued to share invaluable feedback from their first-hand interactions with customers and who champion these efforts with customers onboard.

Today, Delta and Hughes Announced a New Partnership to Bring Free Wi-Fi to Regional Routes. When Should Customers Expect to Experience the new Wi-Fi and Delta Sync on Delta's Regional Jets?

M: Customers traveling short-haul routes on our Boeing 717s and fleet of regional jet aircraft can look forward to free Wi-Fi and Delta Sync next year, with a recent agreement with satellite connectivity provider Hughes. This paves the way for new Wi-Fi equipment to be added to more than 400 aircraft starting in mid-2024. These aircraft will also receive the new Delta Sync Wi-Fi login experience as new systems are installed. Customers onboard will enjoy reliable, streaming-quality connectivity on all their personal devices from gate to gate.

Delta Sync Was a Key Part of the Announcements Made Earlier This Year. What Are You Hearing from Customers About That Experience?

JM: We began rolling out Delta Sync in April, and the first few months have taught us a lot. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive.

At its core, Delta Sync is about creating experiences that make each customer feel taken care of in a way that’s personal, meaningful and relevant to how they go about their lives. It’s our umbrella brand that currently encompasses two industry-leading entertainment products for SkyMiles members that we’ve been rolling out as part of the Wi-Fi experience onboard. The first product is available on your personal devices – cell phones, laptops, etc. – via the Delta Sync Wi-Fi login page, and the second product, Delta Sync seatback, is an update to our beloved seatback screens that makes them feel more like smart TVs.

We’ve loved hearing what customers have to say about Delta Sync. They’ve told us it helps them maximize their travel time, and they love being able to use multiple screens to stay entertained and productive. They share in our excitement as we build out an experience centered around them and their needs.

The New Sync Experience Features Brand Partnerships Spanning Streaming to Gaming, Dinning to Adventure and Beyond. What's next?

JM: Customer feedback is foundational to how we bring new partners into the Delta Sync experience. Delta Sync is all about putting individual needs at the center, so our partners reflect what our customers have told us they want to do. And that’s relax and watch the latest box office hit, engage in brain-stimulating activities and games, stay connected with loved ones and be productive with work and other commitments. 

It’s important we are partnering with leaders in their space, too. Paramount is a leader in the streaming space, T-Mobile is a leading connectivity provider, New York Times Games streaks are a phenomenon of their own, and on and on. These experiences just make sense because it’s what customers want when they connect to the internet during their flight. And we’re just getting started – we’re constantly listening to and learning from customers to improve the offers and access we bring onboard in the future.

In Your Opinion, What Has Been the Most Remarkable Part of Making Fast, Free Wi-Fi a Reality?

JM: The scale of our Wi-Fi initiative is a world first – no other airline comes close to what we are offering today across our fleet and operation. We’re talking connectivity at a truly unprecedented scale. It’s been a labor of love across teams at Delta, and I’m in constant awe of the engineers, developers, designers, product leaders, technicians, satellite providers – everyone responsible for bringing this complex project to life.

Delivering fast, free Wi-Fi requires a complex network of satellites that are utilized in just the right position at just the right time to keep our aircraft connected—that’s not an easy task. Our teams are working hand-in-hand with connectivity partners to ensure we do everything we can to offer a reliable and consistent experience no matter where you are headed on Delta.

A Critical Question to Close Us Out: What's the Best Thing You've Watched on In-Flight Entertainment This Year?

JM: I’m a big Star Trek fan, so I’ve been streaming the first four seasons of Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+ to get ready for the series finale next year.