Australian low-cost carrier Virgin Blue has launched its LiveTV-based inflight television service.

Called “live2air” and offering pay-per-view programming from Australia’s Foxtel and Austar satellite TV providers, the service is being delivered through hardware provided by Florida-based LiveTV. Virgin Blue plans to have 20 per cent of its Boeing 737-700s and –800s equipped this year, with the balance of the 47-strong fleet completed by mid-2007.

Passengers are paying a special introductory rate of Aus$6 (US$4.60) on all flights during the first weeks of implementation. Standard rates will be Aus$6 for unlimited viewing on flights shorter than three hours and Aus$9 (US$6.90) on longer flights. The 24 channels of programming include news from Sky News Australia, Fox News and CNN, Fox Sports, music and children’s programming.

Virgin Blue is LiveTV’s first customer outside North America, where it serves parent company JetBlue, Frontier Airlines, AirTran and Canada’s WestJet.