Qantas has revised the timeline for equipping its entire international widebody fleet with in-flight Wi-Fi, now aiming to complete the installation by March or April 2027. This represents a delay of approximately 15 months from the airline’s original commitment to have internet connectivity available across all widebody aircraft by the end of 2025.
The rollout will focus on the final stages of wiring 10 Airbus A380s and three Boeing 787s. These A380s currently operate Qantas’s flagship QF1 service between Sydney and London, a route on which passengers have so far been unable to access Wi-Fi during the long-haul flight. Meanwhile, the airline’s new Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, which will serve the upcoming Project Sunrise direct flights from Sydney to London, are being fitted with Viasat technology, ensuring internet availability on these ultra-long-range services from their inception.
Cam Wallace, Qantas International chief executive, acknowledged the delay but emphasized the airline’s commitment to deliver a high-quality online experience. He also indicated that when Qantas’s contract with its existing satellite internet provider Viasat expires in two years, the airline will explore offers from other companies amid increasing market competition. More than 40 global airlines, including Qatar Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines, have transitioned to using SpaceX’s Starlink system, favored for its high-speed connectivity and capacity to handle multiple simultaneous users.
Wallace noted that while Viasat is currently upgrading its capabilities, Qantas intends to evaluate all potential vendors to ensure passengers receive the best possible in-flight connectivity going forward. “The market’s getting more competitive,” he said, “so we’ll be talking to more and more market participants.”
Industry observers have remarked on the extended wait for comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage aboard Qantas international flights. Executive Traveller editor-in-chief David Flynn highlighted growing passenger expectations for connectivity, especially following the widespread availability of Wi-Fi on domestic routes. He noted that prolonged delays risk making alternative offerings from other carriers, particularly those equipped with high-speed systems like Starlink, more attractive to travelers.
Separately, in preparation for Project Sunrise, Qantas is finalizing details on the new A350-1000ULR cabins, with economy seat pitch varying between 32 and 34 inches. Approximately 40 out of 140 economy seats will be designated as ‘economy plus’ with extra legroom available for an additional fee. Flight durations on the Sydney–London direct service are expected to range between 19 hours 25 minutes and 20 hours 25 minutes outbound, and a faster 18 to 19.5 hours on the return due to prevailing wind conditions, yielding a time saving of up to three and a half hours compared to current stopover routes.
The ultra-long-haul flights will be staffed by a crew of four pilots and 14 cabin attendants, with rest areas on the new aircraft designed to improve crew comfort through advanced lighting, temperature, and noise control systems. Qantas has emphasized its commitment to passenger comfort throughout these developments while continuing to invest in modernizing its international services.