Qantas ramps up inflight Internet ahead of September launch
By David Flynn, July 4 2017
Qantas expects to move its inflight WiFi service out of the current 'beta' trial mode in September this year, at which point it plans to have ten Boeing 737 jets fitted with the latest satellite tech.
The airline says that when properly launched, its Qantas WiFi service "will offer faster speeds and improved reliability" compared to what's already on offer in the trial program.
What travellers won't notice will be any change to the pricing, with inflight Internet remaining free for all passengers.
AusBT review: Qantas WiFi inflight Internet
However, plans to kit out an Airbus A330 for east-west Internet have been pushed back from the previous mid-year timeline, a Qantas spokesperson tells Australian Business Traveller.
"We are focusing on the 737s for now and we will turn our attention to the A330s later this year."
It's also looking less and less likely that the tech will be seen on the QantasLink Boeing 717 jets – some of which will be rostered onto weekend flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from August 2017 – or their Fokker 100 and Bombardier Dash 8 siblings.
The results from the trial period to date indicate download speeds routinely topping 12Mbps, which is faster than most home or office ADSL2+ broadband connections, with the most popular usage times being mornings and evenings, particularly on the Sydney-Melbourne route.
Qantas says that a third of passengers on its WiFi-equipped jet are logging on, with email and Web browsing – particularly visiting news websites – the most popular activities, followed by social media (where Facebook takes the lead over Twitter and Instagram), streaming video and music, and messaging services such as WhatsApp.
Qantas' 80-strong domestic Boeing 737 and A330 fleet is expected to be upgraded by late 2018, with the airline also considering extending the service to international flights – although its factory-fresh Boeing 787s won't be delivered with WiFi on board.
Qantas began its inflight Internet trials in April, alongside rival Virgin Australia, with the challenger also currently running this as a free trial service.
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
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 687
EXCELLENT news!
In light of my previous comments on this subject, many thanks to ausbt for keeping us up to date with a timely and useful article. Well done, David.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 320
I hope it works for them, getting a bit tired of sitting there trying to get Q streaming to work and the being advised it is out of action again.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
Really? I've never had a problem with Q Streaming - it remembers what show i was watching if it didn't finish and loads and plays perfectly everytime I've used it.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Equally never an issue with QStreaming
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 1
I moved on from Qantas some time ago. Yay.
28 Aug 2016
Total posts 20
I agree. It's a great service and it works as well as Netflix or Plex does on the ground - which most in-seat technology does not. Great to see the airlines not trying to keep up on the screen and software tech that goes in the seat which is always worse that your own device you can bring on board.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2017
Total posts 74
While I'm sure plenty would be wanting the delivery fast-tracked, glad to see they are taking the time to get the product right and rolling it out in a logical fashion and continuing to openly offer it as a free service; not hedging their bets like Virgin - "free for a trial period then charging".
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