Qantas to offer Spotify streaming on domestic flights

Qantas passengers on domestic hauls can take advantage of a 30-day free trial of the Spotify Premium music streaming service with the promotion starting later this month.

Twelve months after announcing its arrival, Qantas is introducing wi-fi in its aircraft. It’ll begin on a single aircraft in late February, with the rest of its fleet of domestic Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 aircraft fitted with the technology from this winter.

Qantas Group Executive of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Olivia Wirth, said: “The usage data from the collection of albums we already have on our aircraft shows that music is a great way for passengers to relax as they watch the world fly by.

“Spotify will open this up so you can listen to virtually any song you like.”

Qantas are also offering Netflix and Foxtel to their customers. All three services are usually accessed via subscription. However, Qantas travellers will be able to retain their membership after the flight.

Passengers are required to sign on to the service. Spotify and Netflix are giving away 30-day free trials, while Foxtel will offer three days of full access.

Spotify Premium’s 30 million songs come with no ads, shuffle play and unlimited skips.

Qantas claims that its in-flight wi-fi service will be 10 times faster than “conventional in-flight wi-fi”. It announced 12 months ago that it was partnering with ViaSat and NBN to deliver high-speed in-flight connectivity on domestic services.The airline is in discussion in providing the three services on international flights.

Qantas isn’t the only airline heading towards music streaming. Last month, American Airlines announced that its new fleet of 100 jets would have music and movie streaming capabilities.

The new aircraft will not be fitted with screens at the back of the seats in Economy class as 90% of its passengers come on board with their own devices and screens.

Moreover, British Airways is introducing wi-fi on short-haul flights this northern summer, in addition to some of its longer flights. Lufthansa and Norwegian have the service available on their short trips.

In-flight wi-fi comes from ground-based mobile broadband towers, which send signals up to an aircraft’s antennas (which can be troublesome when the craft is flying over large stretches of water) or via satellite technology.