BBC has announced that Australian airline major Qantas will be showing a selection of its programmes on its flights. Programes will be sourced from BBC World which is the Beeb's 24-hour international news and information channel.

The programmes passengers will be able to enjoy include 'Click Online' which scrutinises the latest developments on the Net as well as keeping viewers up to speed with latest technical advances, Hardtalk with host Tim Sebastian talking to eminent personalities from various spheres of life and Simpson's World.

The last one has John Simpson analysing and meditating on the evnts that are shaping the 21st century. An official release states that in Australia BBC World can be seen on Foxhole and Optus Television.

Speaking on the agreement Channel manager BBC World Stephanie Davey made these remarks: "We are delighted to be able to offer Qantas travellers a handpicked selection of quality BBC World programming featuring topical interviews, and news analysis, relied upon by people all over the world. Never more so than in the current climate have business travellers represented such a high percentage of our core audience. So we are delighted to be able to keep them up to date and informed even when they are in the air."

BBC World claims to reach 192 million homes in 200 countries. It claims to be available to 800,000 hotel rooms all over the world.