Qantas offers free WiFi but with a catch (of course)

QANTAS AIRBUS A380-842 VH-OQJ (MSN 062)

From next Tuesday, Qantas will offer free high-speed Wi-Fi on selected international flights, but only while the aircraft is flying over Australia. The news is the first step toward the national carriers' goal of having an international fleet of Wi-Fi enabled aircraft by the end of 2025.

The initial selection of flights will see specific A330-200 and Boeing 737’s on nine routes providing the option of inflight Wi-Fi. Selected routes include Sydney to Singapore, Jakarta, Manila and Denpasar as well as Melbourne to Singapore and Denpasar, plus Brisbane to Singapore and Port Moresby and Perth to Singapore.

The routes have been selected because of their flight paths, which operate over Australia for more than half of the journey.

In March, Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce revealed the national carrier was aiming for a late 2025 launch of free Wi-Fi on international flights, with a number of new Wi-Fi enabled A350-1000’s due to be delivered and noted the airline wanted to ensure the service was a good as what was rolled out on domestic flights in 2017.

“Qantas’ decision makes plenty of sense when aircraft on these routes spend so much of their time over Australia and within the coverage footprint of the NBN Sky Muster satellite,” editor-in-chief, Executive Traveller, David Flynn, told the Australian.

“Flights from the east coast capitals to Singapore spend half their time in Australian airspace, and from Sydney or Melbourne to Bali that’s almost two-thirds of the journey.”

“Travellers have increasingly become accustomed to Wi-Fi on international flights, whether it’s to tackle work, watch streaming video or simply stay in touch with family and friends on the ground.”