PASSENGERS REACT: Qantas scraps in-flight music on domestic

Qantas is in hot water after scrapping its in-flight music and radio offerings on domestic flights.

So if you’re one to engage in midflight silent discos, then you might want to bring your own beats.

The airline said a review of its in-flight entertainment offerings found that fewer than 10 per cent of its passengers were making use of its on-demand music and radio channels.

A Qantas spokesperson told News Corp that most passengers on both domestic and international flights bring their own device with music already downloaded.

The airline said most passengers on domestic flights watch movies and TV shows and expanding these offerings was top priority.

Passengers can still enjoy the airline’s Apple Music offering, plus a range of podcasts and audiobooks on domestic routes and international passengers can still access all the existing music offerings.

As News Corp points out, while 10 per cent doesn’t sound like much, Qantas flew 22 million people on its domestic network in FY16, which equates to about $2.2 million worth of unhappy customers.

And boy have they made it known.

What a shame. One of the things I've enjoyed most flying @qantas is listening to the in-flight radio programs https://t.co/oExXfdLXX9
— Andrew Lund (@andrew_lund) September 19, 2018

You can stop the music: @Qantas just did. #travel https://t.co/8uUNHdzXuj
— Plane Sailing (@PlaneSailingCo) September 20, 2018

https://twitter.com/smattau/status/1042568666699620352

Some have even gone as far as threatening to cancel their Qantas club membership:

Damn shame! I think I’ll cancel my q club membership!
Who sings the sing with the lyrics “…burn my hand off..”? Beautiful female voice.
— Maurice J Day Jr (@JerryDay19) September 18, 2018

One passenger said the music has helped them through stressful landings:

I've had times where during stressful landings the albums available have made a huge difference! Axing it is a real shame.
— Clancy Bennett (@clancycalder) September 18, 2018

Chief executive of Australian music rights organisation APRA AMCOS Dean Ormston told Fairfax he was deeply disappointed Australian music, in particular, will not feature on the flights.

“In their role as the national carrier Qantas has the opportunity to literally carry Australian stories in Australian voices to the world via their customers, and tell those stories to music-loving Aussies as well,” he said.

“Australia is a music nation, and our year on year revenue stats show there is an increasing appetite for local music both here and abroad.”

“The opportunities are endless – audio, video, podcasts, playlists, print, background music at departure gates, live music in the lounge – the key is focused curation across the brand.”

“It’s a win/win/win scenario for Qantas, their customers and the music industry. It would be a shame not to reconsider this move, and the feedback we’ve received echoes that sentiment.”

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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