The first Delta Air Lines widebody to be equipped with wi-fi will be a Boeing 767-300 prototype ahead of the carrier outfitting its entire pre-merger domestic fleet by September.
Installation on the 767 prototype is expected to be finished on 9 July, followed by a flight test set for 13 July.
As for narrowbodies, equipage of a 737-700 prototype is planned for early September. In the meantime, Delta expects to begin installations on 737-800s beginning 26 July.
Installation continues as the SkyTeam alliance member has outfitted 183 of more than 300 pre-merger Delta aircraft, or 56.7% of its pre-merger domestic mainline fleet, with Aircell's Gogo internet service. This includes one 737-800, 49 757-200s, 117 MD-88 aircraft and 16 MD-90s.
As for the fleet of Delta subsidiary Northwest Airlines, "engineering teams have been establishing the scope of work for the 757-200 fleet", Delta senior product manager of in-flight Entertainment Chris Babb says in the Delta blog.
Delta and Northwest merged in October 2008 and Northwest's Airbus A319/A320 final wi-fi design review is scheduled for 16 July.
Roughly 200 Northwest aircraft will offer internet connectivity this year.
Meanwhile, Delta is selling internet access for $9.95 on flights less than three hours and $12.95 on legs lasting longer than three hours. Passengers have been able to purchase month-long unlimited-use passes since June.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
