Qantas has taken Apple to new heights, offering the iPad Mini as inflight entertainment for passengers.
Acting as a new alternative to traditional inflight entertainment systems, the revamped Airbus A330 jets are being used in all 243 economy seats, according to Australian Business Traveller.
The tablets will be used onboard eight domestic A330-200 jets, which mainly fly the east-west transcontinental trek between Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and currently lack any inflight video screens.
Business class travellers also receive an extra entertainment treat on these flights, getting their own dedicated 16-inch HD touchscreens, according to AUSBT.
Qantas will have everything from movies, TV shows, and music beamed to a customised app on the Minis, via inflight WiFi over the airline’s Q Streaming network, which shares the same range of content with economy as business.
Qantas will also issue new-design headsets in economy that swaps the old foam pads for flexible silicone earpads that improve noise reduction, according to AUSBT.
Qantas says the tablets are better than the old inflight systems, as they can be used on the tray table as well as being docked in custom-designed holders installed into the seat in recent refurbs.
Economy seats have also been fitted with two USB ports, writes AUSBT, one for passenger’s own tech, while the other is used to keep the iPad’s battery high.
