NBN Co plans to make its satellites available to Qantas and Virgin Australia to offer in-flight internet access for passengers.

NBN Co chief executive Bill Morrow said the company was in discussions with the airlines to share use of the two satellites bought to deliver broadband to remote and rural Australia.

NBN Co wants to keep you connected in the air. Credit:iStock

The $620 million Ka-band satellites were ordered from Space Systems/Loral, a Californian company, under the previous government to cover the remaining 3 per cent of the Australian population not included in the NBN fixed and wireless footprint. They will be operated by Optus under a five-year agreement and are due in orbit in 2015.

Mr Morrow told a gathering of the Trans-Tasman Business Circle in Melbourne on Tuesday deployment of the satellites was on track.

He gave no indication of pricing or timing for the potential in-flight service.

In-flight Wi-Fi is notoriously expensive. OnAir, a Geneva-based company that provides mobile phone and Wi-Fi services for airlines and cruise ships, recently presented a bill of more than $1300 to a Singapore Airlines passenger.