VA wi-fi roll out

VIRGIN Australia boss John Borghetti today announced the planned deployment of the airline’s free wi-fi service on domestic and int’l flights had begun through provider Gogo.

After a successful three-month trial aboard one of its Boeing 737s, VA today said it was now rolling out in-flight wi-fi across its fleet of 737s & would move to its wide-body 777 aircraft in Oct.

The airline forecasts to have the technology fitted to all its 777s and the majority of 737s by the end of 2018, and will then move to fit out its Airbus A330s by the end of the second half of 2019.

Borghetti said that more than 90% of VA’s fleet would be fitted with the technology, offering a “base” level of free wi-fi to all passengers on domestic flights and the only airline to offer wi-fi on international services.

Virgin Australia’s internet service will be supplied through Gogo and Optus Satellite.

“We will have access to the largest fleet of satellites servicing Australia and New Zealand, providing our guests with a fast and reliable wi-fi experience on board,” Borghetti remarked.

Gogo president and ceo Michael Small said the company’s 2Ku tech would enable passengers to stay connected “anywhere these aircraft fly - gate-to-gate - with an internet experience they’re used to experiencing on the ground”.

VA’s wi-fi trial saw 77% of pax report a “high level of satisfaction”, with close to half of passengers checking email, about one-third reading the news and one-fifth watching Netflix.