Delta CEO Ed Bastian was the keynote for the CES C Space program in Las Vegas on Jan. 5. Photo: Rank Studios for Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is offering free in-flight connectivity (IFC) on Viasat-equipped aircraft this year, a major vote for free IFC service from one of the top U.S. airlines. 

Delta announced Thursday it is making Wi-Fi free through a partnership with T-Mobile for all customers on board most domestic mainline flights beginning Feb. 1. The airline will offer the service on more than 700 Viasat-equipped aircraft by the end of the year, and on international and regional aircraft by the end of 2024. 

T-Mobile customers already had access to free in-flight Wi-Fi and now that will expand to all customers. This follows after a Viasat IFC deal with Delta in 2021. 

Delta is pitching this as a “core element of its customer experience.”

“At work, at home and everywhere in between, connectivity is essential to daily life, and your journey on Delta should be no different,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said at CES on Thursday. “Our vision has long been to deliver an experience at 30,000 feet that feels similar to what our customers have available on the ground.”

Don Buchman, vice president of Commercia Aviation for Viasat said the company is support to the free Wi-Fi. “Viasat’s system – from the satellites to how we manage bandwidth — has been designed over many years to enable consistent, high-quality Wi-Fi at scale for customers like Delta, so those traveling on Viasat-equipped Delta aircraft can enjoy their favorite content — similar to how they would at home,” he said.