Qantas starts international wifi

RSVKanga said:
The first QF aircraft scheduled to be fitted with fast and free international Wifi should have entered service by now (A332). Any idea on what the registration of this aircraft is?
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Are you talking about the domestic ones? They're already flying and ive used it more than once to SIN (whilst overland Australia).

Any proper Int'l can't function. Viasat 3 APAC satellite is still on earth last I checked. EMEA (the next satellite) is unknown delays and Americas differed the major setback.
 
jase05 said:
Thought it was pushed back to end of the year
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Strange, there was a random(?) mention of this on Ch 7 news tonight. I don’t recall seeing a recent presser update from QF so maybe Ch 7 is reading this?
 
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There's been something in the news today. Not sure if it a rehash of prior stuff:


Acceleration of international Wi-Fi rollout​

Qantas will retrofit its existing fleet of international aircraft with fast and free Wi-Fi, with the service due to be progressively switched on from the end of calendar year 2024.
The expansion of Wi-Fi to the airline’s international fleet was deferred until global satellite technology was able to deliver a similar quality connection that Qantas customers have when travelling domestically. The speed and reliability of Qantas’ domestic Wi-Fi service has driven average take-up rates of 75 per cent, with some routes showing up to 100 per cent uptake.
Qantas will offer ‘fast and free’ international Wi-Fi with enough bandwidth for every passenger to enjoy a fast and consistent connection.
The service will tap into the latest technology from global broadband services provider, Viasat, giving customers on international flights the ability to stream movies, TV shows, the latest news bulletins and live sports.
Qantas’ A330, B787 and A380 fleets will progressively be retrofitted to enable connection to Viasat’s expanding next-generation satellite network.
The A330-200LR installation program will be built into the existing heavy maintenance schedule starting in March 2024. Installation on all eight of these aircraft is expected to be complete by the end of this calendar year, coinciding with the launch of a new satellite covering South East Asia. Installation programs for the B787, A380 and A330-300s will commence from 2025.
New aircraft currently on order, including A350 and B787 fleets, will be Wi-Fi capable when delivered.
Jetstar will introduce onboard Wi-Fi on its international widebody fleet from 2026, as part of its Boeing 787 cabin refresh.
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SYD said:
Sounds like it.
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I imagine this is the a330 refurbishment program that will see some of the fleet get new Y seats.

But as far as the internet actually being turned on, that would depend on when Viasat-3 APAC goes up.
 
cpatters said:
Looks like EBN is the first aircraft to have the Wi-Fi dome installed as the aircraft is currently out of the hanger in Brisbane after undergoing heavy maintenance.
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EBN scheduled to operate QF51 BNE-SIN today.

So today’s QF51 service seems to be the first QF international flight to be equipped with fast free and unlimited wifi for the entire duration of the flight.
 
RSVKanga said:
EBN scheduled to operate QF51 BNE-SIN today.

So today’s QF51 service seems to be the first QF international flight to be equipped with fast free and unlimited wifi for the entire duration of the flight.
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Unlikely if it's Viasat, given they haven't launched their satellite yet.
 
RSVKanga said:
EBN scheduled to operate QF51 BNE-SIN today.

So today’s QF51 service seems to be the first QF international flight to be equipped with fast free and unlimited wifi for the entire duration of the flight.
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My understanding was that even though it might be fitted they aren’t actually turning on the wifi until the end of the year
 
elanshin said:
that would depend on when Viasat-3 APAC goes up.
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For the whole route.. yes.

And ViaSat3.3 still doesn't have a launch contract.
However Imarsat (that ViaSat purchased in 2023) does have global Ka Band coverage via Inmarsat 5/6/ GlobalXpress , albeit I don't think it's yet clear how they will work commercially as one entity.
(Qatar and Emirates uses GlobalXpress)

But the NBNs SkyMuster satellite will give it good connection over the initial part of the journey.
 
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moa999 said:
But the NBNs SkyMuster satellite will give it good connection over the initial part of the journey.
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Which is the gist of the ET article - until the full capability rolls out.
 

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