Jetstar to offer iPads in-flight

Jetstar has announced plans to offer iPads to entertain passengers on domestic flights over 90 minutes in length.

In a two-week-long trial that commences later this month, Jetstar will charge passengers $10 to rent an iPad loaded with movies, TV programs, eBooks, music videos, games and CDs.

A Jetstar spokesman told iTnews that the low-cost Qantas subsidiary has been in discussions with Apple since its initial iPad announcement in January.

"We have been in touch with Apple since they announced the iPad in the US," she said. "We have purchased several hundred iPads as part of the trial."

Jetstar has engaged Australian in-flight entertainment service provider Stellar Inflight and UK-based Bluebox Avionics to develop custom software for the iPad.

Bluebox Avionics first announced the availability of its 'bluebox Ai' on the iPad in April. Jetstar claims to be the first airline to announce a trial of the technology.

Should the trial be successful, Jetstar will deploy iPads for in-flight entertainment on all its domestic and international services.

Stellar Inflight has declined to comment on the partnership and technology.