Virgin Australia will bring back an inflight Wi-Fi network after removing the service to customers in April 2020. The first of the airline’s Boeing 737s is hoped to relaunch inflight Wi-Fi by the end of December 2022, with a gradual resumption of Wi-Fi service on most of the Boeing 737 fleet over the following 18 months.
The rollout of the new high-speed satellite service — in partnership with tech provider Intelsat — is planned to be completed by the first half of 2024, with inflight internet connection free to Business Class passengers, Velocity Platinum frequent flyers and VIP members of the Virgin Australia Beyond program. All other customers will be able to purchase 30-minute access or a flight pass that enables Wi-Fi connectivity for the duration of the flight.
Customers receiving the complimentary or paid internet service will be able to connect any personal laptop, tablet or smartphone using the Virgin Australia onboard Wi-Fi network.
The new Wi-Fi network will be available to passengers flying Virgin Australia’s new daily return Cairns to Tokyo service, which is due to commence operations on 28 June 2023, with eight Business Class seats available to customers.
The airline will use the newly acquired Boeing 737 MAX 8 for the Tokyo Haneda service with a flight time of around 7 hours and 30 minutes from Cairns and 7 hours 45 minutes in the opposite direction. The airline will fly the first Boeing 737 MAX 8 early in 2023 and has eight 737 MAX 8 aircraft on order.
Read the First-Class.com review of Virgin Australia Business Class
