Southwest partners with Apple to bring Beats Music streaming to in-flight entertainment service

Southwest Airlines has just announced that it’s launching a new in-flight entertainment service that will offer users the ability to listen to Apple’s Beats Music streaming service free via onboard Wi-Fi.

Customers accessing Beats Music onboard have an opportunity to listen to wide-ranging music programming in pop, rock, country, and other genres to hear fresh new artists and the hottest songs, which are handpicked by Beats Music expert curators.  Accessing the service inflight is on the house and includes a library of hundreds of playlists. 

The new in-flight service is officially available starting today on Southwest’s Wi-Fi enabled flights with the company earlier today giving a demo of the new feature “onboard the official Beats Music-decaled Boeing 737 aircraft” (pictured above). The company has the new Beats Music aircraft to promote the service and its press release notes that “a special playlist was created that will come to life with live concerts from a couple of the artists on select Southwest flights at 35,000 feet!” The promotional event kicks off today with a live concert from band Cobra Starship:

The official Beats Music aircraft is planned to depart from Dallas Love Field to Chicago-Midway on flight 732 with Cobra Starship onboard. Customers on this flight will get a Southwest Airlines VIP backstage pass to the most elevated live concert they’ve ever experienced, with an opportunity to meet and receive autographs from the band.  Southwest Airlines also is celebrating with Customers on Flight 1527 with Elephant Revival, flying from Portland to Denver.

Here’s a look at the Beats Music streaming service, which normally costs $10/month or $100/year to access, through Southwest’s new in-flight entertainment portal:

Access to Beats Music on Southwest flights starts today through iOS, Android and most web browsers through its new in-flight entertainment service.