Virgin Australia has started three months of testing in-flight wireless Internet access on one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The testing, which commenced on Thursday, allows passengers flying on the Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft to use the service free of charge and provides access to popular streaming services Netflix, Stan and Pandora while in the air.
Virgin is partnering with in-flight connectivity provider Gogo and Optus Satellite for the trial.
John Thomas, group executive, Virgin Australia, said the airline wanted to ensure that guests could stay “reliably connected in the air while also enjoying the fantastic entertainment and customer service for which Virgin Australia is well known”.
{loadposition peter}“We’re looking forward to receiving guest feedback about our in-flight connectivity over the next three months to ensure we are able to offer the best possible service in the sky.”
Passengers who travel on the Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft during the testing period will be notified that Wi-Fi is available on their flight and provided with instructions on how to access it.
Thomas says the airline will finalise its business model after considering customer feedback and the results of the testing period.