diff --git a/dev/tasks/python-wheels/travis.linux.yml b/dev/tasks/python-wheels/travis.linux.yml
index 932bbf0cb21..d8d9ef3a4d9 100644
--- a/dev/tasks/python-wheels/travis.linux.yml
+++ b/dev/tasks/python-wheels/travis.linux.yml
@@ -16,15 +16,13 @@
 
 os: linux
 
+dist: bionic
+
+language: python
+
 services:
   - docker
 
-# Update docker to support newer docker-compose versions
-addons:
-  apt:
-    packages:
-      - docker-ce
-
 # don't build twice
 if: tag IS blank
 
@@ -33,9 +31,6 @@ env:
     - PLAT=x86_64
     - TRAVIS_TAG={{ task.tag }}
 
-before_script:
-  - sudo pip install -U docker-compose
-
 script:
   - git clone --no-checkout {{ arrow.remote }} arrow
   - git -C arrow fetch -t {{ arrow.remote }} {{ arrow.branch }}