Australian air travellers will soon be able to purchase a range of transport, entertainment and travel tickets all while on the way to their destination.

Bus and train tickets, rental car hire, concert packages and even tourist attractions will all be offered under a new scheme by technology company Guestlogix which aims to roll out onboard retail services to Australian airlines. The initiative is thought to be under consideration from budget carriers who are seeking to explore other ways of generating income.

Much in the same way that movie theatres make money from selling soft drinks and popcorn, so too will the airline which would receive a commission for any onboard sales. The range of items may also extend to overseas mobile phone packages and service providers which can reduce the financial cost of global roaming for the international jet set.

John Devins, head of GuestLogix, claimed that the current economic climate had meant that traditional duty free sales were dwindling as online stores can frequently match the tax-free price. With airlines struggling under the recession and seat revenue only counting for so much, now is seen as an ideal time to open the retail market to the skies.

Accordingly, the plane itself will likely evolve into a flying retail store with the focus on destination-related products and services. Similar programs already exist at Ryanair, American Airlines and British Airways with the Australian market release forecasted for 2010.