Qantas kills long-haul in-flight wi-fi; people want sleep instead
Skift Take
Qantas, already troubled with all kinds of operational and management issues, wants to focus less on forward-looking-profits-in-future services. Understandably.
Qantas has axed its plans to offer sky-high surfing across its Airbus A380 fleet, citing a lackluster response from travelers on its mainly overnight flights.
Over the weekend the airline ended its nine-month trial of inflight Internet on selected A380 routes.
"The trial has demonstrated a lower than expected take-up of the service, particularly on overnight flights where sleep was their priority...Given the large proportion of Qantas’ A380 services are overnight flights, at this time we’ve decided not to offer the service across our A380 fleet on a permanent basis."
Up Next
Experiences
How Travel Brands Can Seize the ‘Q5’ Opportunity on TikTok
Driven by increased spending on experiences and the digital habits of younger audiences, TikTok has emerged as a key platform for inspiring and shaping travel decisions. Leveraging the platform’s reach early in the year presents a unique opportunity for travel brands to connect with eager travelers.
Sponsored 
Airlines
This Airline Is Tapping Into India’s Growing Love for Sports and Events-Led Tourism
While Indian carriers have a strong hold in the Indian market, Singapore-based low-cost carrier Scoot is counting on its robust network primarily in the Southeast Asian market and Indians' love for unique experiences to drive growth.
Tour Operators
Airbnb Experiences: New Details Point to Direct Competition with Viator and GetYourGuide
Experiences has traditionally been a low-margin business so Airbnb was never going to make a go of it tethered to a niche offering. The challenge in going mainstream is to maintain some differentiation from rivals.
Airlines
U.S. Safety Regulators Push for Restrictions on Helicopter Traffic Near DCA Following Fatal Crash
The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board said not restricting helicopter traffic around Reagan National was “stronger than an oversight.”
Airlines
Southwest’s Gamble: It’s Now Just Like Every Other Airline
Southwest’s reversal on baggage fees is part of an avalanche of major changes the carrier has made within the past year. Is Southwest catching up to its competition or is it losing its uniqueness?