Qantas trials iPad in the sky
Apple boards the flying kangaroo
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Qantas has decided to trial Apple iPads as an in-flight entertainment option on selected flights from October.
The Australian carrier has been considering the technology platform for some time.
Qantas will pre-load the iPads with content including television shows, movies and music to be delivered to all passengers on one Boeing 767-300 initially.
Qantas executive manager customer experience Alison Webster said that if the trial is successful, it could lead to Qantas delivering all entertainment via wireless technology rather than personal seat-back television screens.
The Q Streaming app, which was developed with technology from Lufthansa System, had the potential to deliver all programs currently available on Qantas's A380 aircraft.
The end game would be that passengers would eventually use their own devices to access streamed content. Qantas is considering a number of delivery and content options including the ability to have movies or television programs on personal devices available on playback even after leaving the aircraft.
The benefits of portable entertainment devices include significant weight savings, compared to the current seat-back systems. "We are all focused on fuel burn being environmentally friendly and we have huge commitments to sustainability targets," Webster said. ®
