Delta has started switching its inflight Wi-Fi systems from long-time vendor Gogo to Viasat, a rival company that offers faster and denser service. The switch is starting with about 300 narrow-body planes.
Unlike Gogo, Viasat owns and is extending its own network of satellites, which gives it greater control over cost and is built around a newer technology. JetBlue, which already offers free Wi-Fi on its flights, was an early Viasat client.
Ed Bastian, Delta president, said in 2019 that Delta had system-wide free and fast Wi-Fi within a year or two, and the Viasat contract may be Step 1 toward that goal. The 300 planes is about half of Delta’s fleet, and plans have not been announced for shifting the rest of the fleet to Viasat.
