Qantas courts controversy by adding in-flight wifi

There are differing opinions about the provision of in-flight wifi on planes.

Business people welcome the chance to do an extra hour or two of work while in the air, while those who seek sanctuary from technology when flying are far less keen,

Qantas will start a free in-flight internet service next month when it unveils "technology trials" on a Boeing 737-800 jet.

Passengers stepping on board the Boeing 737 on domestic flights will be able to connect their laptop, tablet or smartphone to a wifi hotspot and jump online for what Qantas promises will be a broadband experience good enough for streaming movies and live TV, Australian Business Traveller reports.

The upgraded 737 will serve Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the main business destinations, with possible flights to Perth.

The Boeing 737 will connect NBN Co's pair of Sky Muster satellites which take all of Australia under their wing. The speed will be equivalent to fast ADSL2+.

“The technology we’re using makes us confident that we’ll be able to provide a fast internet connection to passengers," a Qantas spokesman told Australian Business Traveller.

"It will be enough to comfortably stream video and given we’re offering it for free, we expect take-up to be strong."

I'll certainly be very keen; having found Etihad's wifi offering (although not free) very useful on a recent return trip to Europe.