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Australia's low fares airline Jetstar has announced it will trial the iPad for onboard entertainment. Jetstar will be one of the first airlines in the world to trial iPads, to begin later in June on selected domestic routes across Australia.
The iPads will provide in-flight entertainment with movies, TV programs, eBooks, music videos, games and CDs. Jetstar passengers can pay just $10 to rent the iPad on board.
Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan said introducing the iPads was very exciting for Jetstar as it anticipates huge demand for the hotly anticipated mobile device. "We are really excited to commence the trial of the iPads, as we're always looking for ways to enhance our customer's Jetstar experience," Buchanan said.
"In addition to offering low fares, great customer service and more choice, it's important that we can provide the latest in innovative technology to entertain our customers on board," Buchanan said. "Based on demand for the iPads as part of the trial, we'll be looking to roll out the devices across our entire domestic and international network later in the year.”
Jetstar is working with in-flight entertainment specialist Bluebox Avionics and Stellar Inflight to implement the trial.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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borscht
trial is a verb now?
Frungy
It's a good idea. I already use my ipod touch on flights to stave off boredom since I find it much easier to watch and I pre-load it with stuff I want to read/watch.
mrsynik
Their parent airline can't manage to keep their own in-flight entertainment systems functioning reliably on their A330's, what makes you think Jetstar will have the nous to keep these new fangled gadgets also working properly?
maxpower
good idea. The old thing they used was heavy with a tiny screen.
I will use my iphone or laptop though
whiskeysour
Yeah !!!! Is it just for adults or children ?? I can see a child breaking it right now. Do they pay full price if broken or tampered with ?
tigau
borscht, "trial" is (and has been for a while) a totally legitimate verb.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/trial?view=uk
goddog
How long do the batteries last? Will they have plugs on every seat so you can plug it in? What if you rent one and your battery dies fast but the guy sitting next to is going strong?
gogogo
If you can get wifi even better
DeepAir65
they must have read my posts elsewhere - this is about the only way I can see an iPad being useful and I am a big Apple fan
smithinjapan
mrsynik: "Their parent airline can't manage to keep their own in-flight entertainment systems functioning reliably on their A330's, what makes you think Jetstar will have the nous to keep these new fangled gadgets also working properly?"
It's a LOT more practical than what they currently have going on airlines. If they have ONE problem with the current entertainment system it affects EVERYONE on board. If you have an iPad with a problem they can hand you another one. They're not talking about the 3G functions, since using a cell phone is not permitted, they're simply talking about hand held units with previously uploaded movies/entertainment, which will beat the pants off even having your own TV as opposed to a single screen in the cabin.
BIG step up, though an expensive one for the company. As you can see, already iPad is bringing about some pretty big changes in bringing together all sorts of technology into a single unit.
JohnBecker
Apple should just give the iPads to the airline - it gets the device in front of lots of people who would never have thought about buying one and might generate a few sales.
goddog: a co-worker just got one a couple of weeks ago and says that the battery life is fantastic - it can last a complete day of constant use when fully chanrged.
DeepAir65
On Jetstar they already do something similar where they give you a console so this make perfect sense for them as the current console is about 3 times the thickness of an iPad so it will give them more storage space. But they would get even more if they gave everyone a seatback system like other airlines...
noborito
JohnBecker, hahahaha... 2 million sold in 3 months. People know and have thought.