DELTA BECOMES FIRST U.S. AIRLINE TO OFFER ENTIRE IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SUITE FREE TO ALL PASSENGERS

The movies, TV shows and music will be available July 1 on any two-class airplane, which compose about 90 percent of the airline’s fleet.

Its onboard entertainment package, called Delta Studio, varies in breadth from aircraft-to-aircraft, but the full suite includes about 300 movies, 750 television shows, 100 foreign films, 2,400 songs, 18 live satellite TV channels and select games.

Delta says it operates the largest entertainment-equipped fleet in the world, with more than 1,000 aircraft (and all 660 of its domestic planes) outfitted with technology that allows passengers to stream the entertainment on laptops, cell phones and tablets. An additional 400 aircraft come with seat-back screens and the entertainment software installed.

“The only thing better than operating the world’s largest in-flight entertainment-equipped fleet is providing it free to all our guests,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president of marketing, in a statement.  “Our commitment is to provide Delta customers with the industry’s best on-board services – period.”

The airline has gradually unveiled upgrades aimed at improving the onboard experience. Delta has modernized the interior on hundreds of planes, including bigger overhead bins, better screens, ambient (or mood-like) LED lighting, new bathrooms and new seats with power outlets.

Of course, not all of Delta’s aircraft have the new-car smell. It is still working on a multiyear retirementplan for hundreds of its aircraft, which are some of the oldest operating commercial jets in the U.S. Many of those are frequently flown into and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.