Qantas has retrofitted its existing international aircraft with fast and free in-flight Wi-Fi, with plans to roll out the service in stages from the end of 2024.
The oneworld member airline said the expansion of Wi-Fi to international aircraft has been delayed until global satellite technology can provide Qantas customers with the same quality of connectivity when traveling domestically. I am.
Qantas’ domestic Wi-Fi service is fast and reliable, with average utilization reaching 75% and up to 100% on some routes.
Qantas offers “fast and free” international Wi-Fi through provider Viasat. This includes enough bandwidth for all passengers to enjoy a fast and stable connection, including the ability to stream movies, TV shows, the latest breaking news and live sports.
Qantas’ A330, B787 and A380 fleet will be retrofitted in stages to enable connectivity to Viasat’s expanding next-generation satellite network.
The A330-200LR installation program will be integrated into the existing heavy maintenance schedule beginning in March 2024. Installation on all eight aircraft is expected to be completed by the end of this year, coinciding with the launch of a new satellite covering the southeast. Asia. The introduction program for existing 787-9, A380 and A330-300 aircraft will begin in 2025.
New aircraft currently on order, such as the A350 and B787, will be Wi-Fi enabled upon delivery.
Jetstar will introduce in-flight Wi-Fi on its international wide-body aircraft from 2026 as part of its Boeing 787-8 cabin renovation.
Separately, Qantas Group has announced what customers will do with its Airbus A220 aircraft when the new aircraft begins commercial flights next month as part of a multi-billion dollar investment pipeline over the next few years. We made it clear what we can expect.
The A220 flies between cities such as Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane and Canberra, as well as major regional cities such as Coffs Harbor and Launceston. With twice the range of the 717 it replaces, the A220 can fly between any point within Australia and to some offshore destinations, with the potential for new You will have a choice of routes.
Qantas’ A220 aircraft can carry 137 passengers in two cabins, with 10 business seats in a 2-2 configuration and 127 economy seats in a 2-3 configuration. Wi-Fi connectivity will be available on the Qantas A220 fleet.
The first A220 commercial flights will go on sale this week for travel between Melbourne and Canberra and Melbourne and Brisbane from 1 March 2024. This will expand to Melbourne-Hobart from July 2024, Melbourne-Coffs Harbor from October 2024 and Melbourne-Launceston from November 2024 as more aircraft are delivered.
Additionally, the group has confirmed eight additional Airbus A321XLR aircraft for Qantas’ domestic flights from the existing order book announced as part of the domestic fleet renewal program. This brings Qantas’ total A321XLR order to 28, with the first aircraft expected to arrive in early 2025.
The A321XLR is five meters longer than the 737 it replaces and can carry up to 200 passengers (20 business and 180 economy), increasing capacity by up to 15% without reducing space between seats. .
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said on February 22: “The importance of affordable air travel and increasing market capacity means that fares have fallen more than 10% since their peak in late 2022. I understand that it means that.”
It added: “We know that staying connected is important for our international customers, and we aim to ensure that the same high-speed connectivity you use domestically will be available overseas. I’ve been waiting for a long time.
New widebody aircraft ordered in the next few years will be equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, and today we announced that high-speed Wi-Fi will be available on existing long-range aircraft starting in late 2024. The launch of the new satellite will greatly expand our coverage area,” Hudson said.
Qantas Airways
