The Flying Kangaroo hosted the world’s first tech talk in the sky (and possibly the most tech friendly flight in the world) featuring live-streaming, Fitbits, discussions and more.
Qantas’ flight 73 from Sydney to San Francisco yesterday was dubbed the ‘Ideas that Travel’ service and was organised in partnership with TEDxSydney.
Four of Australia’s technology and science innovators shared their vision for the future of technology and design in a series of talks held in the nose of Qantas’ B747.
The talks were live-streamed to passengers via the in-flight entertainment system and available online following QF73’s arrival into San Francisco. The series will also be screened during TEDxSydney on 25 May 2016.
On board QF73 was a group of ten Australian tech entrepreneurs and start-ups sourced by innovation hub, The York Butter Factory, and Australia’s leading supplier diversity organisation, Supply Nation.
During the 13-hour flight, the startup group wore Fitbits to trial the new Qantas Assure app, which goes live later this year. Australian Qantas Frequent Flyers who buy eligible insurance products from Qantas Assure and download the app will be able to earn Qantas Points for being active, which they can monitor through wearable technology.
Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing, and Corporate Affairs Olivia Wirth said the carrier was delighted to give emerging thinkers a unique platform to share their ideas.
“This is the perfect route for a world-first.”
Olivia Wirth, Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing, and Corporate Affairs
“We all know about the impact of the California tech boom, but what’s really exciting is the growing number of Australians doing business with Silicon Valley on the one hand, and building a home-grown Australian culture of entrepreneurialism on the other.”
“One of the reasons we re-launched flights between Sydney and San Francisco was to support growing business travel driven by the tech boom, and we’re looking forward to playing our part in strengthening the ties between innovators on both sides of the Pacific.”
