Delta Airlines is making a few changes for its travelers that could be for better or worse depending on your standing with the carrier.
Starting February 1, Delta will begin rolling out free wifi on most of its planes — but to access it, fliers must be members of its SkyMiles loyalty program.
CEO Ed Bastian revealed the news at the 2023 Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas. He explained that the airline had invested more than $1 billion for upgrading its wifi capabilities on planes.
"The only requirement will be is that you login through your SkyMiles account because we had to have some way to get people online. I'm sure everyone in here has a SkyMiles account, but if you don't, it will take you about 30 seconds. We'll make it easy on the plane to login, and then you've got free access," Bastian said during the CES C Space program on Thursday.
The news comes after Delta announced changes for access to its Delta Sky Club back in November. According to the airline, 2022 was a record year for visits to its premium Sky Club. So much so, that the "best-in-class" experience had dwindled due to overcrowding.
"A byproduct of Delta Sky Club's widespread popularity is visit growth that has outpaced Club capacity – resulting in frustration for some customers who find themselves waiting in lines or searching for seating once inside," the company said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the airline has also said it is working to continue expanding its Sky Club capacity at various airports.
President Donald Trump is talking up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. While Trump has seized on similar announcements to show that his presidency is boosting the economy, there were already expectations of a massive buildout of data centers and electricity plants needed for the development of AI.
Chris Ruder, Spikeball Founder and CEO, explains how he and his friends put roundnet on the global map, plus, how Spikeball helps people "find their circle."
J.W. Roth, CEO of Venu Holding Corporation, discusses the company's IPO and plans to redefine live music entertainment with their fan founded, fan-owned model.
Variety's Clayton Davis discusses why more than just the 1% are struggling after the LA fires. Plus, how awards shows will pivot to help victims. Watch!
Emily Hosie, CEO of Rebelstork, explains the concept of Returns Recommerce, plus how her company raised $18M to address the industry-wide issue of returns.
