Delta’s Free Wi-Fi on 1,000 Planes, Qantas Ponders Vegas Flights, and More Airlines News

Welcome to another weekly roundup of airline news that didn’t get its own story in the past 7 days.

Headlines this week include Delta’s Wi-Fi rollout, a potential nonstop flight from Las Vegas to Australia, and updates from across The Pond in Europe, among other notable developments.

Let’s get started.

Delta Leads American and United With Fast Free Wi-Fi

Delta Air Lines was proud to announce that it reached a new milestone with its Wi-Fi rollout this week. As of Monday, December 8, 1,000 of Delta’s planes now feature fast, complimentary, Delta Sync Wi-Fi. I tried it out on a couple of flights in the summer, and it worked without a hitch both times.

Fast, complimentary Wi-Fi is a must-have for airlines these days if they want to stay relevant in a very competitive industry. While the vast majority of carriers around the world are opting for Elon Musk’s Starlink, Delta’s fast and free Wi-Fi is supplied by T-Mobile.

To enjoy unlimited free in-flight Wi-Fi access when flying Delta, you’ll just need to log in with your SkyMiles membership number.

Of the big 3 U.S. airlines (American, Delta, and United), Delta’s Wi-Fi offering is currently the best, although American and United both have significant plans for their Wi-Fi offerings in 2026.

What’s Going on With American and Spirit?

The rumor mill is spinning after American Airlines bought 2 gates from Spirit Airlines at Chicago O’Hare (ORD). The plot thickens, as American also requested to be a “party in interest” in Spirit’s bankruptcy proceedings.

However, neither of those things, together or separately, gives a clear indication that American Airlines is looking to buy Spirit. After Spirit axed half of its routes from O’Hare, selling the gates that it no longer needs — to the tune of $30 million — is a normal financial step to make. American is also doing whatever it takes to compete with United at its failing Chicago hub.

American Airlines’ request to be a “party in interest” is where the lines blur a little. The request means that American is privy to all reporting, liquidation statements, and other plans regarding Spirits’ bankruptcy and potential acquisition by another airline. According to Reuters, a spokesperson for American confirmed that the request is related to an “airport-specific” agreement, which leads us back to its purchase of 2 gates from Spirit and nothing more.

Las Vegas Nonstop to Australia Could Become a Reality

But it’s probably a long way off yet.

In 2026, Qantas will operate charter flights to Las Vegas (LAS) to support NRL matches for its second year in a row. However, in a recent chat with Executive Traveller, Cam Wallace, CEO for Qantas International, confirmed that Las Vegas is a target for a potential seasonal service for the Australian flag carrier.

When you combine the fact that visitor numbers to the U.S. are decreasing and that Qantas’ U.S.-bound ticket sales aren’t exactly flourishing, now might not be the most ideal time to start a niche route from Australia to Vegas.

It would, however, make more sense for Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary Jetstar to start a service to Las Vegas. Steph Tully, CEO for Jetstar, recently told The Australian that a flight from Bris-Vegas (Brisbane) to Las Vegas is “very Jetstar.”

With the introduction of Jetstar’s retrofitted Boeing 787s in 2026, the reality of a nonstop Brisbane (BNE) to Vegas flight might not be too far away.

Transiting Through Paris Charles de Gaulle Will Be Less Confusing

Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is frequently criticized by frequent flyers and those who transit through the airport for being unnecessarily confusing.

It’s particularly troublesome for Air France‘s transiting passengers who are welcomed in Terminal 2, which has sub terminals 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2EK, 2EL, 2EM, 2F, and 2G.

Thankfully, Group ADP, the company that runs airports in Paris, has seen sense and decided it’s about time the airport’s terminals were renamed. As of March 2027, the airport’s terminals will be logically renamed from Terminal 1 through to Terminal 7, and there won’t be a random letter from the alphabet in sight.

Before the changes come into effect, the airport has a mammoth task on its hands to replace 3,000 signs in the terminals, 600 signs in the parking lots, and 250 road signs. The planned completion date of March 2027 coincides with the launch of the CDG express — a new train that will reduce journeys from Paris Gare de l’Est to Charles de Gaulle by around 10 minutes.

Air France Will Open a Stunning New Lounge at London Heathrow

Sticking to Europe, let’s move to my home country of England, which will soon get its first-ever dedicated Air France lounge.

Opening in spring 2026, Air France passengers flying in La Première (first class), business class, and select elite status holders will have access to a brand-new lounge at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4.

According to Air France, the 2,460-square-foot lounge will boast a “vast” bar featuring French wines and Champagnes, as well as the finest in French gastronomy — and possibly even a spa.

With up to 7 daily flights, it makes sense for Air France to invest in London’s biggest airport.

Terminal 4 is also where Air France’s partner, KLM, and other SkyTeam airlines, such as Aeromexico and Kenya Airways, operate. While eligible KLM passengers will have access to the lounge, I reached out to Air France to verify whether eligible passengers flying with other SkyTeam airlines will also get to enjoy the space before their flight. I have yet to receive a response.

Lufthansa Group Unveils Simplified Branding

The next time you fly Lufthansa, or one of the ever-increasing number of airlines that are part of the Lufthansa Group, you might notice changes to its branding.

The changes are subtle, and the iconic crane remains the symbol that represents the group.

“A visual identity in aviation must do much more than just create an eye-catching appearance,” said Dieter Vranckx, chief commercial officer at Lufthansa Group. “It will reflect our strategic brand values and a promise we want to make to our passengers across all our brands.”

The new Lufthansa Group branding will also be visible outside some of the group’s airline lounges with the names of each member airline written underneath.

Final Thoughts

I’m not sure what I find more surprising: that Qantas might launch a route to Las Vegas or that Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport will finally have terminal names and numbers that make sense.

As for Delta’s Wi-Fi, I’ll be flying one of its Boeing 767s from Honolulu to Los Angeles next month, so I wonder whether the rollout will have reached even those older aircraft by that point. See you again next week with more exciting news.