Delta Air Lines has launched international wifi service on two Boeing 747-400 routes to Tokyo-Narita, its regional hub in Asia, from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. The connection will be powered by Ku-band satellite.
The American carrier currently maintains a fleet of 16 B747-400 aircraft, which its uses to operate several services to and within Asia, including flights connecting Detroit with Nagoya and Tokyo-Narita; Tokyo Narita with New York JFK, Manila, Taipei and Bangkok; as well as Nagoya with Manila.
Delta started introducing onboard wifi on its domestic flights more than five years ago, and now operates the world’s largest wifi-equipped fleet with more than 3,400 flights daily.
“Our customers want to remain productive in-flight and that does not stop as they fly over US borders,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president – marketing. “Expanding Delta’s wifi service internationally is another benefit of the investments we are making to improve the travel experience, and give our customers exactly what they want.”
The carrier plans to have all of its B747-400s installed with wifi by mid-2014, and its entire international fleet by the end of 2015. This will include its B777, B767, A330 and transoceanic B757 aircraft that fly on international, long-haul routes.
Customers on Delta's wifi-equipped flights can opt to gain wifi access by two different means. The first is through the use of one-hour passes that cost US$14 for laptops and US$8 for mobile phones. These passes allow unlimited wifi use for the duration of an hour, and may be topped up at one’s discretion. The second option is to pay a fixed fee of US$24.95 or US$14.95 for wifi on one’s laptop or mobile phone respectively. This will entitle the user to have unlimited use of wifi throughout the flight.
For more information, visit www.delta.com
Clement Huang
