Qantas to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi

By Mark Elliott On Feb 23, 2016

TD Guest Writer

Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly

Qantas will roll-out the service on its domestic fleet of Boeing 737s and A330s

Qantas will start offering free, high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers on its domestic flights next year.

Through a partnership with broadband provider ViaSat, using its “nbn” network, the new service will feature speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional in-flight Wi-Fi, enabling passengers to stream movies and other content while in the air.

In-flight trials are expected to begin with a single Boeing 737 aircraft in late 2016. This will be followed by a full roll-out across Qantas’ domestic fleet of Airbus A330s and B737s from early 2017.

“Bringing high-speed Wi-Fi to the domestic aviation market has been an ambition of ours for a long time and we now have access to the right technology to make it happen,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

Passengers will be able to stream movies and live sports events to their mobile devices

“The sheer size of the Australian landmass creates some significant challenges for in-flight connectivity, but the recent launch of nbn’s satellite has opened up new opportunities that we plan to take advantage of with ViaSat’s help.”

Under the deal, ViaSat will provide Qantas with connectivity between the aircraft and the KA-band satellite and ground stations, which will then provide a link to the internet. Airlines in the US have already started using this high-speed system and are reportedly experiencing user rates four times higher than the industry average.

“This service will give Qantas customers download speeds in the air similar to what they’re used to on the ground,” Joyce said. “You won’t be limited to checking your email or Facebook – it’s going to be about watching the football live, streaming your favourite TV show or movie, catching up on the latest YouTube videos, or shopping online. This kind of in-flight connectivity would also open up a lot of potential to improve in-flight entertainment, which we’re constantly looking to enhance.

“Delivering value-for-money to our customers is extremely important to us. That’s why we’ll be offering access to Wi-Fi for free, on top of all the other things that are included when you fly Qantas,” he added.

Qantas said it is also examining options for high-speed Wi-Fi across its international and regional fleets.

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