Urban Echo

While Jetstar used to rent digEcor's digEplayer portable IFE units to passengers, it no longer does so. DigEcor says today it hasn't supplied Jetstar in several years, and that Irish firm Airvod is the current provider. Hard on the heels of Bluebox Avionics' iPad-based in-flight entertainment system comes word of what appears to be the first carrier to test out the technology: Jetstar, the low-cost subsidiary of Australian Qantas Airways.

Starting later this month, passengers on select domestic Jetstar flights will be offered an iPad for a rental fee of AUD 10, according to Flight Global. Along with the device will come a wide assortment of music, movies, eBooks, magazines and games. The trial is being conducted in partnership with Bluebox and Stellar Inflight.

So is Jetstar going to be rolling out the devices on its entire domestic and international network? Well that's rather huge. Jetstar's fleet consists of Airbus A320s, A321s and A330s. The carrier also holds an order for 15 787s. A bit of in-flight connectivity would go nicely with this deal, eh?

The iPad is currently the hottest gadget in the world and it stands a good chance of being picked up by passengers in droves.