EXCLUSIVE | Qantas will push back the installation of inflight Internet to its domestic Airbus A330 fleet until 2019, with the extensive upgrade tipped to stretch through into 2020.
The airline originally suggested its first Airbus A330s – which tend to dominate the transcontinental corridor between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – would be fitted with the fast and free satellite-based WiFi service from "early 2017", and later pushed that back to "early 2018."
However, Australian Business Traveller has learned that the domestic A330-200 jets now won't be kitted out for sky-high surfing until the start of 2019, with the 12-strong fleet unlikely to be completed until early 2020.
A Qantas spokesperson confirmed that "almost all of the domestic A330s will be equipped during 2019."
"While the fitout of each aircraft takes about a week to complete, we need to combine it with periodic heavy maintenance to avoid disrupting our schedule."
The tardy twin-aisles will also delay the completion target for Qantas' domestic fleet, which the airline has previously said would be "upgraded by the end by the end of 2018."
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Qantas' decision will disappoint many business travellers who regularly tackle the popular east-west routes, spending around five hours each way – often the better part of their working day – in the air but out of touch with the office.
However, it won't hand much of an advantage to challenger Virgin Australia, which has previously said it won't begin its own Airbus A330 WiFi overhaul until late 2018, with the upgrade for its six jets stretching out to 2020.
At least two of those jets will be dedicated to Virgin's growing Asian network, which from the second half of this year will see Sydney-Hong Kong flights added to the current Melbourne-Hong Kong route.
Meanwhile, bringing Qantas WiFi to the airline's workhorse Boeing 737s remains largely on track.
"We currently have WiFi fitted to 22 aircraft and expect to have 40 by the middle of the year," the spokesperson said. "By the end of 2018, the vast majority of the Boeing 737 fleet will be completed."
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Dec 2014
Total posts 43
I am hoping these delays relate to finding a wifi source for international flights. Would love to see all A330 domestic or international covered!
23 Oct 2014
Total posts 239
Delays to A330 and no international wifi from QF however more 737’s currently fitted, puts Virgin almost in front with 1/2 777 flleet already fitted to US with wifi available today and plans in place to rapidly fit international 737 fleet to cover NZ and the pacific. A330’s to come later the article states, but that’s now the case for both airlines.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 88
What’s your point Down South?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
I was on a recently wifi-equipped Qantas Boeing 737 between Hobart and Melbourne last month. At first I thought it was great to be able to jump online in the air but soon found myself checking work emails. I think down the track we're going to miss being able to completely shut off to the outside world when flying. Another sign of the times.
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
Pretty sure Qantas did not force you to check your work emails.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
But will employers start expecting us to be available with our email switched on in years to come? Probably.
18 Nov 2015
Total posts 117
"But will employers start expecting us to be available with our email switched on in years to come? "
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Jul 2015
Total posts 8
Some of us “employees” treat business as though our own. If I miss 5hrs in the air, I expect I will make up for it once on the ground. In reality, I will schedule to impact my time rather than lose my employer money. Yeah ... I’m a dinosaur!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 30
"And if your employer is expecting you to be connected on a flight"
Who does? I never expect any of my employees to be communicable on a flight. Nor would any sensible employer for that matter. If I'm sending one of my staff to Singapore. That's their work day. I DON'T expect another 8 hours of work out of them for that day.
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
What a silly argument. Do ppl complain about internet access on trains or buses?
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 87
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Nov 2017
Total posts 30
Spot on. Everybody here acts like they are a CEO to a multinational. The reality is that if your business can't account for your business travel AS work, then perhaps you should be turning down business travel to make a point.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1224
There was always a question how QF would address their WiFi on their international fleet. Their SkyMuster solution on the 737s performs very well but only covers flights within or near the Australian continent. Qantas will probably have to go with a global solution like GoGo for its international fleet.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
Whilst there are positives to inflight internet, I think these are outweighed by the negatives. I do NOT want people expecting responses to emails that they send me when I'm in the air! One of the beautiful aspects of flying is that you are outside of the range of communications devices. I'm happy to leave it that way.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 May 2013
Total posts 383
I couldn't agree more and my point, exactly.
18 Jan 2018
Total posts 63
Completely typical of the selfish me me generation. Expecting the whole world to forgo a convenience because they themselves have no semblance of self control. Don’t want wifi - don’t log on!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Jan 2018
Total posts 88
I just can't believe how people can take something which is objectively a good thing and turn it into a negative.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Jul 2015
Total posts 7
Disappointed WIFI is getting rolled out in the 737's.
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