Qantas-Virgin Wi-Fi war is not a free-for-all

The Wi-Fi war between Qantas and Virgin is shaping up as an epic contest.

The Wi-Fi war between Qantas and Virgin is shaping up as an epic contest as the two companies apply very different technology and diametrically opposed business models.

The battle has some similarities with the rivalry between Windows and Mac, or VHS and Beta video recorders in the 1980s, and it marks the biggest change to air travel since the introduction of in-flight entertainment systems.

Virgin sought yesterday to steal the march on Qantas by announcing a test flight from next month that will offer free Wi-Fi, but the company says the free service will apply only during this testing phase.

Qantas promises to offer a free service for all passengers but was forced to abandon the official launch of its in-flight Wi-Fi on Monday after last-minute tests revealed unresolved “stability issues”.

Qantas says it can offer a free service because it is using a satellite system with greater capacity. Virgin says it is using a “tried and tested” technology that relies on Optus satellites.

Asked whether the company would charge in the future, a Virgin spokeswoman said the pricing model would be competitive. Virgin already ­offers in-flight entertainment via a Wi-Fi app on selected Boeing 737-800 and Embraer 190 aircraft, but this system is limited to entertainment.