Qantas boosts business travel with free wi-fi on international flights

In a significant development for business travellers, Qantas is gearing up to introduce free, high-speed wi-fi across its global routes.

Scheduled to roll out by year’s end, this expansion builds on the successful deployment of similar services on domestic flights since 2016.

Phil Capps, Qantas’ executive manager for product and service, announced the roll out will commence with flights to Asia, followed by trans-Tasman and Pacific routes, with European destinations set to come online by the second half of 2026.

“When we first put it on, it was just a means of keeping connected, very much so for business-purpose travellers who might be going from Sydney to Melbourne for the day, and they might be completing presentations or other work,” Capps told The Australian.

“That remains true, but with the improving capability of the wi-fi systems, now we’re seeing this real growth in the use of wi-fi domestically.”

According to Capps, a quarter of Qantas domestic customers are now using the airline’s wi-fi to stream video, with another 15-20% streaming audio.

“So this shows that the expectation for wi-fi among our domestic travellers is not just for business but very much for leisure too,” Capps said.

The latest development leverages a partnership with global broadband leader Viasat, which was significantly bolstered by its $7.3 billion merger with British satellite firm Inmarsat last year.

This merger has equipped Qantas with enhanced satellite coverage and redundancy, thanks to a geostationary-orbit network that ensures fewer satellites can cover more ground – or air, in this case.

It’s this technological advancement that Capps credits with providing the infrastructure necessary to support reliable broadband, even on routes flying south towards Antarctica, where connectivity has traditionally been a challenge.

The delay in introducing wi-fi to international flights, according to Capps, was largely due to Qantas’ commitment to meeting the high standards set domestically.

“We didn’t want to go out strong with international wi-fi until we were comfortable that we could meet a comparable benchmark,” Capps said.

Moreover, retrofitting older aircraft like the A380 has proven more complex and costly compared to newer models like the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These newer aircraft were designed with future tech integrations in mind, simplifying the installation of next-gen wi-fi systems.

Looking ahead, Qantas is positioning itself distinctively in the market by offering this service for free, a move likely to set a new industry standard and intensify competition among international carriers.

This decision is influenced by growing consumer demand for constant connectivity, reflecting a shift from the era when flights were considered a break from digital ties.

This strategic move by Qantas not only caters to business travellers, who may need to work on the fly, but also taps into the broader trend of digital consumption, accommodating passengers’ desires to stay entertained and connected, even at 30,000 feet.