In flight WiFi and new Heathrow lounge for Qantas
Qantas will introduce inflight WiFi across its domestic fleet from next year. The airline will also build a new premium lounge at Heathrow Airport, as well as add flights and seats on its Asian and North American routes.
In-flight trials are expected to begin later this year when one of Qantas’s Boeing 737s is retrofitted with equipment to enable high-speed WiFi. A full roll-out across the domestic fleet of A330s and B737s is planned from early 2017, with the aircraft to be fitted with modems and the advanced antennae that receive the satellite signal.
Options for high-speed WiFi across its international and regional fleet were also being examined, the airline said in a statement.
The new premium lounge will occupy a split-level space in Terminal 3 and have capacity for 230 people. It will offer views over the airport when it opens in early 2017.
“The Kangaroo Route is at the heart of Qantas’s identity and London remains one of our most important destinations,” said Qantas Group ceo, Alan Joyce. “We want the first dedicated Qantas lounge at Heathrow to be something special.
Qantas will also add flights to its Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and San Francisco routes.
During the announcement of its financial results for the six months ending December 31, 2015, the group reported a statutory profit before tax of A$983m (R10,75bn) in its 2016 first-half financial results released yesterday.
The airline’s revenue increased by 5% to A$8,5bn (R93bn), while total unit costs were down by 7% compared with the first half of last year.
Source: www.etnw.co.za
