Having fitted Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band geostationary (GEO) satellite-supported inflight connectivity to the lion’s share of its domestic mainline fleet, Delta Air Lines is now ramping up equipage on widebodies flying long-haul, including any Airbus A330s, A330neos and A350s not yet fitted with the system.
That means that Delta passengers flying internationally can increasingly look forward to availing of free, streaming-class Wi-Fi, sponsored by T-Mobile. Most transatlantic flights are slated to go live with the service by the end of this summer, according to Delta.
However, the US major’s prior strategy of offering free, fast Wi-Fi across its entire mainline fleet by the end of 2024 has moved to the right.
Indeed, Delta now expects that widebodies flying transpacific routes (including to Asia, Australia and New Zealand) — as well as to South Africa, will begin rollout in “mid-late 2025”. At that time, barring any unexpected events, Viasat should be able to support inflight Wi-Fi in the Asia-Pacific region using its high-capacity ViaSat-3 F3 satellite.
(Viasat has Asia-Pacific coverage via the Global Xpress Ka-band satellite fleet acquired through its Inmarsat buy, but its IFC system is not yet fully interoperable with GX, and interoperability will require hardware upgrades at airlines.)
Anticipating a calendar 2024 launch of the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite into geostationary orbit, Viasat management recently told investors that the Carlsbad, California-based firm is eyeing a service entry of “mid-late 2025”.
That messaging meshes perfectly with Delta’s newly announced timetable for offering free Wi-Fi on transpacific routes. Viasat, meanwhile, expects to offer service over its ViaSat-3 F2 satellite in “late 2025”.
Viasat’s satellite roadmap sees the ViaSat-3 F3 Asia-Pacific bird offering service in the mid-late 2025 timeframe. Image: Viasat
For the uninitiated, ViaSat-3 is a near global constellation of three high-capacity Ka-band GEO satellites. The first of these, ViaSat-3 Americas F1, recently entered commercial service, but a previously-reported antenna deployment anomaly has reduced capacity to roughly 10%. In time, this impaired satellite is expected to end up over the Middle East/Africa region (EMEA), whilst the yet-to-launch remaining ViaSat-3 F3 and F2 satellites are expected to be positioned over Asia-Pacific and the Americas, respectively.
Given that Viasat already has high-capacity Ka coverage in North America, across the North Atlantic and in Europe, the latter using its KA-SAT satellite, the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite should remedy many of the gaps in its coverage, with F2 rounding it out. Of note, Qantas is also accelerating rollout of Viasat IFC on its international fleet, given the satellite operator and aero ISP’s timeline for introducing F3 service.
Meanwhile, Delta is being transparent about the fact that there will be “some coverage gaps where Wi-Fi is not available until additional satellites are positioned to provide full coverage” as it brings Viasat-powered IFC to its widebody fleet.
Delta says it’s rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi on Viasat-equipped widebody aircraft “on a route-by-route basis” as service becomes available. Image: Delta
“Today, free, streaming-quality connectivity is available on nearly 700 aircraft – more than 90% of Delta’s domestic mainline fleet – and the airline expects the vast majority of customers will have access to the product by the end of the year,” reports Delta, which in 2021 began migrating away from Gogo’s Ku- and 2Ku IFC installs (acquired by Intelsat at the end of 2020.) Delta charges for Wi-Fi on its Ku-fitted aircraft.
Members of Delta’s SkyMiles loyalty program are now well accustomed to accessing free Wi-Fi aboard Delta’s domestic mainline fleet.
“As free Wi-Fi rolls out internationally, the international Wi-Fi portal will not require a SkyMiles log-in initially,” says Delta. “Later this year, all Viasat Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft will officially convert to the personalized Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience unlocked by customers’ SkyMiles memberships for exclusive onboard experiences and offers.”
Separately, Delta will fit its regional jets and Boeing 717s with Hughes Network Systems’ broadband Ka-band GEO-based IFC solution. In an update on this program, the carrier says: “Delta’s regional routes are expected to follow a similar process and come online into 2025, including those serviced by Boeing 717 aircraft.”
Related Articles:
- Viasat raises forecast, touts strength of aviation despite OEM delays
- Viasat favors own IFC kit for interoperability of Ka satellite assets
- Viasat to focus VS3-F1 throughput on aviation, talks interoperable kit
- Delta, Hughes tout Jupiter connectivity following CRJ200 flight tests
- Delta Sync proves in sync with Viasat’s vision for IFEC
- Delta taps Hughes for Ka-band GEO connectivity on 400-plus 717s, RJs
- Delta pursues rip and replace as it hands big IFC deals to Viasat
Featured image credited to Reilly Oatridge
