DETROIT and LAS VEGAS — Delta Air Lines Inc. on Wednesday launched free WiFi on 75% of its domestic mainline aircraft, an early step toward its overhaul of in-flight entertainment in favor of personalization and free services like Paramount+ streaming, New York Times puzzles and more.
Expectations around the transportation experience are changing. Delta's announcement of this new Delta Sync platform launching this spring came last month during the CES consumer electronics convention in Las Vegas as automakers on the show floor were displaying in-vehicle entertainment options. Among them: BMW's windshield-projected virtual world to Chrysler's music synthesizer to Peugeot's pop-up panoramic screen, offering personalized features for automated driving scenarios and while occupants are waiting for an electric vehicle to charge.
Now, something akin to new vehicles' smart cockpits is coming to airplane seats. Delta CEO Ed Bastian calls this connectivity the industry's "next frontier." Like in the auto industry, these entertainment and convenience options can be a differentiator, but they're also valuable in making travel more enjoyable and building consumer loyalty — though Delta declined to specify how this could impact future pricing.
