Qantas domestic passengers will have in-flight Wi-Fi access to Netflix, Spotify and Foxtel this year.

Netflix, Spotify and Foxtel will provide content which Qantas passengers will be able to view via in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity this year.

The service will be switched on in its first flight late this month, and will continue to roll-out across the domestic fleet throughout the year.

The in-flight Wi-Fi connection are made possible through the NBN SkyMuster satellite service, and boast speeds 10 times faster than regular satellite in-flight Wi-Fi services.

“We know that email, online shopping and general web browsing will be popular uses when we switch on Wi-Fi, but what a lot of people relish about flying is being able to catch up on their favourite TV shows or watch movies they didn’t get to see at the cinema,” says Qantas group executive of brands, marketing and corporate affairs Olivia Wirth.

While Netflix, Spotify Premium and Foxtel are paid services, they will offer free access to passengers during the flight. In addition:

• Netflix will offer new customers access to the entire Netflix service as part of a 30-day free trial. Existing Netflix members only need to log in to continue watching at no extra charge,
• Spotify will offer a 30-day free trial of its Premium music service, which has no ads, shuffle play and unlimited skips, and
• Foxtel will offer three days free access to its Foxtel app every time a customer flies, allowing customers to stream live sports, news and TV shows as well as its full range of on-demand content. No sign-up to a Foxtel subscription is required by passengers.

Passengers log in to the Qantas in-flight Wi-Fi using their own devices, and are presented a landing page with a range of options including the streaming services as well as hotel, restaurant and transport options for flight destinations.

The airline is in talks with with suppliers to extend its Wi-Fi offerings to international and regional flights, and will need a solution which overcomes performance and coverage challenges presented by flying over oceans.

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Further reading

• Last week Qantas launched its Concierge Chat Bot for Messenger »
• The airline will be bringing the cast and crew of The Bold and the Beautiful to Australia »
• Its new safety video features Australian tourism hotspots »