IFE & Connectivity
TrayVu – airplane seat tray doubles as IFE system
1 November 2011 | Tablet pc’s, such as the Apple iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, continue to make inroads into the aircraft cabin, as airlines are increasingly looking to replace hard-wired seatback in-flight entertainment (IFE) units with lighter wi-fi-based models. For examples, airlines such as American Airlines, Gol, Delta, Condor, Qantas (trial) and Virgin America (2012), are installing wireless IFE systems that allow passengers to wirelessly access content stored on an onboard server with their own electronic devices.
American Airlines will also provide Samsung Galaxy Tabs to its Business and First passengers on domestic and international routes that are served by B757 and B767 aircraft. The carrier will roll out a total of 6,000 Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets in the next months to replace the current personal entertainment devices. And Qantas low-cost subsidiary Jetstar will rent out iPads onboard, which passengers can hang at eye level on the back of the seat in front of them.
TrayVu
The Samsung Galaxy tablet is also the centerpiece of a novel IFE solution called TrayVu. Unveiled last month at the Airline Passenger Experience Expo in Seattle, the TrayVu combines the meal tray and the IFE system into one, integrating the Samsung Galaxy Tab into the seat-back tray. De system has a 8.9-inch high-definition touch screen for control, that can be flipped out and up when the table is lowered. Thanks to a clever design, which basically amounts to a hole cut in the tray, the display is still viewable when the tray table is put in an upright position.
The concept seems to have been inspired by how passengers are using their laptop in Economy, and has been designed by Bill Boyer, who earlier introduced the well-known digEplayer portable IFE handheld.
Order from seat
Content available on the wi-fi enabled device includes movies, TV shows (both paid and free) and music. Passengers can also play games with others in the cabin (and see them on the built-in camera on the Samsung device). Each tray also has its own credit card reader, allowing passengers to purchase food and drink from their tray table. They can even run up a tab for items purchased for other passengers, such as their children.
Read full article »
Virgin America goes ‘hybrid’, adds wireless IFE into its RED entertainment system
25 September 2011 | Besides the growing number of airlines that are rolling out (or about to roll out) broadband Internet on their aircraft (e.g, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, SAS, Norwegian, Virgin Atlantic), these days the buzz in in-flight entertainment is all about bringing media tablets such as the iPad into the cabin (e.g, Jetstar) and/or installing wireless IFE systems (e.g, American Airlines and Gol).
Further upping the ante, Virgin America – probably the most tech-embracing airline in the world – has announced it will roll out what it calls a “hybrid IFE&C platform.” Besides offering entertainment via embedded, seat-centric screens, the airline will also offer passengers wi-fi connectivity through their seatback system and their own personal devices, as well as offer wireless access to content stored on an onboard server.
Multitasking
Virgin America has selected Lufthansa Systems’ new BoardConnect platform for the next iteration of its Red in-flight entertainment and communications (IFE&C) platform. The new Red system, slated for a late 2012 release, includes larger, high-definition touchscreen seatback monitors, full wi-fi connectivity and four times more entertainment content. It will also allow passengers to connect their own electronic devices to the system pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight. “For example, if a passenger did not finish watching a film or TV show in-flight, they could save and download to their iPod and finish at their hotel,” said Abby Lunardini, VP of corporate communications for Virgin America.
Virgin America’s CEO David Cush said the system will allow the airline to offer passengers “the best of both worlds.” “Just offering a larger wi-fi pipe with no seatback entertainment as some of our competitors are doing is limiting given wi-fi bandwidth,” Cush said. “We want to give our travelers more options instead of fewer, including the ability to multitask across platforms – just as they do in their lives on the ground.” […] “Our focus on innovation is a core part of our business model and guest offering, and BoardConnect will allow us to […] pace the larger consumer trends in mobile technology.” Adds Virgin America’s Lunardini “This is a significant investment for us. “We want to stay ahead of the path … a lot of people fly with us because it. We’re an entertainment-driven brand.”
Read full article »
Airlines go wireless with their in-flight entertainment systems
5 September 2011 | Updated December 2011
In another sign that in-flight entertainment (IFE) is increasingly mimicking the fast developments in digital consumer electronics (witness the flurry of recent announcements by airlines to make the Apple iPad available to passengers and crew). A similar burst of activity is currently taking place in wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) as airlines are responding to the growing number of travellers bringing their own devices on board.
Essentially an intranet on a plane that replaces the several kilometers of cables needed to connect every single seat, with a wireless network that allows passengers to connect to content on an onboard server with their own laptops, smart phones or tablet PCs, wireless IFE is a relatively cheap and light-weight solution for airlines. The system vastly expands the ‘standard’ IFE features with services such as online shopping and reservations, destination information, real-time travel information and seat-to-seat chat. Following early roll-outs by American Airlines, Delta and Brazilian LCC Gol, half a dozen of other airlines are currently testing (or have announced) a wireless IFE service.
GoGo ‘Vision’
American Airlines (AA) in early August 2011 launched the “initial phase” of Gogo’s new ‘Vision’ inflight streaming video product, which AA calls ‘Entertainment On Demand’. Passengers flying on AA transcontinental fleet of 14 B767-200s on routes between Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York JFK, can wirelessly stream more than 100 movies and TV shows from an in-flight library to “select types” of wi-fi enabled laptops (video here). American is the first airline in the world to offer streaming video to passengers via their own wireless devices from an onboard server.
How it works: Customers click on the Entertainment On Demand banner on AA’s in-flight wi-fi homepage, select a movie or TV show from the titles in the content library, create an account or log in, enter the form of payment (all major credit and debit cards are accepted) and click “rent.” Passengers can sort titles by movie or TV, genre, length of feature and other categories, and trailers are available for complimentary viewing prior to renting content. Movies and TV shows will remain accessible for viewing after the customer has landed – movies for 24 hours and TV shows for 72 hours. The service charges an “introductory price” of USD 0.99 per TV show and USD 3.99 per movie, and will not require customers to purchase inflight Wi-Fi to utilize the Entertainment On Demand feature. See this video for more.
11 ways airlines are deploying the Apple iPad
8 August 2011 | Updated December 2011
The iPad, which began primarily as an entertainment device when it was launched in 2010, has captured the imagination of many other industries in ways that Apple never even imagined. We have reported several times on airlinetrends.com how airlines have made Apple’s versatile iPad device available to passengers in their lounges, rent them out in the air, or use them as self-service kiosk, customer survey tool, and food ordering tool. As the list of applications continues to grow, here is the latest overview of how airlines and airports are deploying the iPad worldwide.
1. Book, check-in
Cathay Pacific in July 2010 became the first airline to launch a dedicated application for the Apple iPad that lets users book Cathay Pacific flights, manage their flight booking, check the status of their flight, and check-in. Similar apps are today offered by American Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, THAI, and Alitalia.
In June 2010, Malaysia Airlines, in cooperation with SITA, introduced the world’s first airline kiosk that uses the iPad. Passengers can use the ‘MHkiosk’ to search and book flights and check-in online. The kiosks are installed at the airline’s ticket office at Kuala Lumpur’s central station.
2. Airport service
Spanish airline Iberia has equipped customer service staff at its Madrid-Barajas hub with iPads to provide them with real-time access to the information they need to make decisions and to keep passengers informed. Iberia’s so-called IBPad is loaded with 30 different applications which, according to the airline, together put the entire airport in the palm of the employee’s hand. Iberia says the IBPad has improved everyday operations and dealings with customers, boosting communications and staff decision-making autonomy, while eliminating the use of paper.
Since March 2011, so-called Changi Experience Agents (CEAs) have been walking the grounds at Singapore Changi Airport, assisting passengers with special needs, and helping passengers with wayfinding at the airport. Locating missing luggage, facilitating passengers with check-in needs and assisting transit or transfer passengers with their onward connections also form part of the CEAs’ duties. Each CEA is equipped with an iPad with which they can retrieve information, such as the latest flight updates, store location, check-in gates, etcetera. The CEAs are on duty all day except from 1am – 6am when passenger traffic is low.
3. Airport lounge
To keep passengers entertained whilst waiting for their flight, several airlines have made iPads available in their lounges. Since July 2010, KLM offers 8 iPads in each of its two lounges at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Lounge guests can use the device to access the Internet, watch content from the airlines’s IFE programming, play games, view KLM images and use a series of pre-installed apps. Cathay Pacific, meanwhile, offers 21 Wi-Fi enabled iPads in its ‘The Cabin’ lounge, which opened in early October 2010. The devices come pre-loaded with apps such as newspapers, magazines and games. Other airlines, such as ANA and airBaltic, also make iPads available upon request to lounge guests at respectively Tokyo Haneda and Riga. Read full article »
Delta to let passengers rent iPad at the airport for onboard use, return it via mail
13 June 2011 | Delta Air Lines and airport food and beverage operator OTG Management have teamed up to modernize the food and beverage offering at Delta’s Concourse G in Terminal 1 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP) Airport. As part of the plans, Delta will upgrade its current food and beverages offerings with 12 new local restaurants and several fresh food markets (images here), and similar to Delta’s New York JFK and La Guardia terminals, seating will be equipped with iPads which passengers can use to order their food and beverages to have it delivered to their seat by a server in less then 10 minutes.
OTG Media Bar
Delta and OTG will also introduce the ‘OTG Media Bar’, a virtual newsstand where Delta passengers can rent an Apple iPad, loaded with the content of their choice. At what looks like a traditional magazine stand, except it will be filled with Apple iPads, passengers can flip through the iPads to see what publications, movies, and music they like, download the content of their choice, and then rent the device for their trip. Once the passenger reaches his or her final destination, a pre-paid postage box received at time of rental is used to return the iPad. This concept of returning rented goods via the mail has been popularized in the U.S. by DVD subscription service Netflix in recent years.
Read full article »
American and Singapore Airlines to introduce innovative IFE features
20 May 2011 | Developments in the world of digital in-flight entertainment (IFE) are progressing rapidly these days (see our recent article: “Trends in consumer electronics drive innovations in in-flight entertainment”. American Airlines and Singapore Airlines are the latest airlines to announce new IFE concepts.
American Airlines in-flight video streaming
American Airlines said it is working with in-flight broadband provider Aircell to test a new entertainment system that enables passengers to wirelessly stream video content such as movies and tv shows from an in-flight library to their personal wireless devices, such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.
American says the price of the streaming video service will be “very similar” to what people pay for pay-per-view movies at home. Amazon and iTunes, two popular pay-per-view channels, typically charge USD3 to 5 for a movie and USD1 to 3 for a TV episode. Passengers who want to buy a movie or TV episode won’t be required to pay for Internet access to see them. The entertainment will be stored in a server on the plane to ensure that the Internet speed for other passengers won’t be slowed.
American is currently testing the new in-flight video system on two Boeing 767-200 aircraft in transcontinental service, and plans to begin customer testing early this summer. The airline’s goal is to roll out the product on Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft starting this fall pending regulatory approval. American currently offers wireless Internet on 208 aircraft and says it will outfit its entire fleet with the service by the end of 2012.
Read full article »
Jetstar to install new lightweight seats with iPad holders
1 May 2011 | Much has already been written about the in-flight rental of the iPad by airlines such as Jetstar, Iceland Express and airBaltic. In June 2010, Qantas low-cost subsidiary Jetstar became the first airline in the world to offer the iPad for rent in a month-long trial on two routes out of Melbourne. Iceland Express was the first airline to introduce the device for rent on an ongoing basis in November 2010 (on transatlantic flights), while airBaltic just confirmed it will make the latest version of the device, the iPad 2, available for rent in-flight from early June 2011 on.
Jetstar and the iPad
Initially planned to be rolled out by year-end 2010 across its fleet, but this was reportedly delayed due to contract negotiations with Apple and media outlets, Jetstar is about to roll-out the iPad as its main source of in-flight entertainment. Although no firm date has been announced yet, Group CEO Bruce Buchanan in the April 2011 edition of Jetstar’s in-flight magazine says that the introduction of iPads is ”imminent”.
iPad seat integration
Jetstar’s iPads will include a novel feature. Flightglobal and Australian Business Traveller report that Jetstar will fit the iPads with a purpose-built case which includes a bracket that lets passengers hang the device at eye level on new ‘Pinnacle’ slimline seats from B/E Aerospace. The seats will come installed on Jetstar’s new A320s (of which it has 44 on firm order) and the airline will also retrofit around 25 aircraft with the new seats during 2011.
B/E Aerospace has relocated the literature pocket to the top of the Pinnacle seat, which freed up more leg room and allows the iPad case to be clipped backwards onto the seat pocket at eye level. Alternatively, a flip-stand on the case lets passengers rest the iPad horizontally on the seat’s tray table. See this video demonstration for more on the workings of the iPad case.
Read full article »
Trends in consumer electronics drive innovations in inflight entertainment
18 April 2011 | Airlinetrends.com visited the recent Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg and found that, besides the renewed interest in lighter and smarter interior solutions – as fuel prices are rising steeply once again –the most interesting developments today are taking place in in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC).
Consumer expectations
Rapid developments in consumer electronics have been fueling consumer expectations towards the entertainment offered onboard (blame Apple). Says Henry Harteveldt, principal analyst at Forrester Research, “Technology is the new steak dinner for the airline world. People want to stay charged up, be in control, stay connected, and airlines must provide that premium service.”
In recent years, several airlines have already rolled out in-flight Internet (mainly on domestic flights in the U.S and intercontinental flights of Emirates and Lufthansa) as well as USB integration between seatback systems and personal devices such as iPods and digital cameras. Low cost carriers, meanwhile, have started to rent out popular devices such as the iPad (eg. Iceland Express, Jetstar, airBaltic) and Sony PSPs (eg. easyJet, Jeju Air) to passengers.
New competition in IFEC
Dominated for years by IFEC heavyweights Panasonic and Thales, the IFEC market is getting more diverse these days. New entrants include Lumexis (fiber optics-based IFEC system), seat-centric systems such as IMS’ Rave and Intelligent Avionics’ Aura, wireless IFEC (Lufthansa Systems’ BoardConnect) and light-weight integrated IFE/seat solutions such as Sicma (SiT) and Weber/Panasonic. Says IFEC specialist Mary Kirby, “While no two systems are exactly alike, all the new entrants share the same message: their platforms are substantially less heavy and less costly than legacy in-seat IFE solutions.” Read full article »
German leisure carrier Condor first to launch wireless IFE system
18 March 2011 | German holiday carrier Condor will become the first airline to install Lufthansa Systems’ new BoardConnect wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on its Boeing 767 aircraft. Unlike conventional wired IFE systems, BoardConnect is essentially an intranet on a plane that replaces the several kilometers of cables, that are usually needed to connect every single seat, with a wireless network that allows passengers to connect to content on an onboard server with their own laptops, smart phones or tablet PCs. Alternatively, integrated seat-back screens or mobile devices provided by the airline can be used to access the Wi-Fi network.
Walled garden
Passengers logging on to the wireless IFE system are shown a startpage that lists the available IFE programming, which can be fully branded and customized by the airline. BoardConnect uses standard software solutions. For example, multimedia content is served up via Microsoft Silverlight, a browser plug-in which comes pre-installed on most new devices. For iPhone, iPad or Android users, apps are being developed that will be available on the Apple App Store and the Android Marketplace. If an aircraft is also equipped with broadband access to the wider Internet, passengers can also surf and send and receive e-mails while in the air. Condor, however, will only offer wireless IFE to access the ‘walled garden’ content available on the onboard server.
Weight savings
According to Lufthansa Systems, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, the elimination of wiring and data distribution hardware could lead to weight savings of almost half a ton on a 767, reducing annual fuel consumption by around 20 tonnes per aircraft. The savings are even greater if no seat-back screens are installed, which is increasingly becoming an option as more and more passengers bring their own Internet-enabled devices on board. Lufthansa Systems says that thanks to the minimal installation effort (as no wiring is required) its BoardConnect solution is also interesting for smaller aircraft such as the A320 and B737, which fly medium-haul routes and generally offer very limited IFE options. See this pdf for more on the BoardConnect wireless IFE system.
Read full article »
Southwest offers free access to iTunes via wireless in-flight portal
28 February 2011 | Southwest Airlines has partnered with Apple to create an entertainment download store called InAirtainment. To be used in the air or on the ground, the service takes the form of a website through which people can browse for music, movies or TV shows hosted on iTunes. Southwest says is it is receiving a small royalty from each download, which may be 5 percent if the airline is enrolled in the normal iTunes affiliate program. To promote InAirtainment, Southwest currently offers a playlist of 20 free songs from acts “about to fly” in their careers.
Asked whether the main goal for the InAirtainment service is to provide Southwest passengers with an alternative for in-flight entertainment, a Southwest spokeswoman said that “Our goal is to make southwest.com an one stop shop for all travel needs. Besides the option to book flights, car rentals, and hotels on our site, customers now have access to InAirtainment where they can download all their music and movies before they depart. Southwest.com is also available free of charge for customers on board our Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft. InAirtainment is a page within southwest.com, so customers are able to access the content free of charge in-flight.”
Gogo Video
The option to access iTunes for free on Southwest flights may be a sign of new in-flight entertainment options to come. For example, in-flight Wi-Fi provider Aircell last year announced plans for an in-flight video downloading service, called Gogo Video. This service would give passengers on Gogo-equipped aircraft (which number nearly 1,100 in North America) the ability to download movie and television content from an onboard server to their laptops via a portal similar to iTunes. According to in-flight entertainment expert Mary Kirby, Gogo however has delayed the introduction of the video service in order to further perfect it.
Read full article »
Lufthansa (re)launches FlyNet inflight broadband on long-haul flights
4 December 2010 | After a four-year suspension, Lufthansa has relaunched its FlyNet inflight Internet service on November 30, 2010. With the introduction, Lufthansa became the first airline to offer passengers wireless broadband Internet access on intercontinental routes. The airline is initially rolling out the FlyNet service on aircraft operating select North Atlantic routes, such as Frankfurt to New York, Detroit and Atlanta. Ten Lufthansa aircraft (mainly A330s) have been readied for the service so far.
Lufthansa is offering the Ku-band satellite-based Internet service in partnership with Panasonic and mobile network operator T-Mobile. The airline will initially provide a WiFi Internet service for laptops and smartphones and GSM capability will be added in spring 2011. No voice or Skype calls will be permitted, however. “We got a clear message from our customers that they are seeking quietness on board and we respect this,” says Lufthansa vice president product management and innovation Christian Körfgen. Besides paid connectivity, passengers can also access news, sports and entertainment for free on an inflight wireless portal.
Pricing
Lufthansa will offer the FlyNet service for free until 31 January 2011. Thereafter, the price for one hour access is EUR10.95 or 3,500 miles, while the 24-hour flat rate is EUR19.95 or 7,000 miles. T-Mobile customers can use the inflight WiFi under their existing cell phone contracts, paying a fee of EUR1.80 for every 10 min. Under the 24-hour flat rate agreement, passengers can also use the FlyNet service on connecting Lufthansa flights during the period of validity as well as in Lufthansa lounges. The carrier aims to have 20 widebodies installed with FlyNet by the end of February 2011 and on all its intercontinental aircraft by the end of 2011. Read full article »
Finnair lends iPads to passengers for free, apps include customer feedback tool
15 November 2010 | We reported earlier how airlines are increasingly making Apple’s popular iPad device available to passengers in their lounges (KLM, Cathay Pacific, ANA) or rent them out in the air (Jetstar, airBaltic, Malaysian Airlines). Finnair is the latest airline to offer passengers the free use of an iPad device. The airline has made five iPads available for passengers in its Helsinki ‘Via Lounge’ in a one-month pilot this November. Later this month Finnair will also distribute the iPads for free in economy and business class on select flights to and from Hong Kong. The iPads have been loaded with dozens of applications and entertaining content, such as newspapers and magazines, films, TV series and games.
Custom-made Finnair feedback app
In an innovative move, Finnair’s iPad devices also contain a bespoke customer research application developed by the airline, which invites passengers to “explore a few ideas and give us your opinion.” Says Finnair’s Vice President Global Marketing Jarkko Konttinen, “We are constantly seeking new, innovative means for product development.” The Finnair survey app holds a dozen new product and service ideas considered by the airline, for example on inflight catering and onboard shopping. Passengers can rate their interest on a 1 to 5 scale on ideas such as the option to order food and drinks from the IFE system (a feature already offered by Virgin America, ANA and Air New Zealand), whether they want to learn more about the background of wines served onboard, or their preferred selection of items available for sale inflight (for example exclusive local Finnish souvenirs).
On a similar note, from June to August 2010, KLM used three iPads for a survey among passengers on its regional subsidiary KLM Cityhopper to test the feasibility of the device for passenger research. The iPads were dedicated for the survey with no entertaining content offered. Read full article »
Flydubai first to operate 737 with new Sky Interior and fiber optic-based IFE system
9 November 2010 | Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai on October 27 became the first airline to take delivery of the Boeing 737-800 Next-Generation (737-800NG) aircraft with the new ‘Sky Interior’ installed. Derived largely from the cabin design innovations on Boeing’s forthcoming 787 Dreamliner, the new 737 Sky Interior (the name comes from the signature blue-sky lighting) aims to give passengers a greater sense of space in the cabin.
Larger bins, redesigned windows and control panels, mood lighting
The new weight-neutral cabin interior has more headroom around the aisle seats thanks to redesigned lugagge bins which, although larger, take up less space and less effort to close, thanks to a new pivot mechanism. Other design features are 787-style sculpted sidewalls that integrate the air vent, reducing overall cabin noise. Redesigned inner windows have increased the viewable area, while the actual size of the window itself has remained the same. The Sky Interior also includes a more intuitive placement of switches and call buttons and improved sound quality and clarity through new speakers in each passenger row.
Another feature of the 737NG cabin is mood lighting, which provides different lighting schemes (video here) ranging from a welcoming soft blue overhead sky simulation to a calm relaxing pallet of sunset colors. The LED-based mood lighting can be controlled via a new flight attendant panel. Read full article »
Airlines increasingly make iPads available to passengers in the air and on the ground
14 October 2010 | Latvian national airline airBaltic is the first airline in Europe (and the second airline worldwide) to introduce the Apple iPad for inflight entertainment. The airline has teamed up with Bluebox Avionics to make the devices available to airBaltic passengers in the coming winter season, which starts in December 2010. The fee to rent an iPad inflight is expected to be a bit more (EUR9) than the amount airBaltic currently charges for its portable IFE device. The announcement by airBaltic is the latest in a series of introductions by airlines of the popular iPad device which was launched in January 2010. An overview of the initiatives sofar.
Jetstar
In June 2010, Qantas low-cost subsidiary Jetstar became the first airline in the world to offer the iPad for rent in a month-long trial on the Melbourne-Gold Coast and Melbourne-Cairns routes. Passengers could rent the device for AUD10 (USD8.50, EUR7.00) for the duration of the flight. The carrier at that time said it had bought several hundred iPad devices, with thirty units available on each test aircraft. Jetstar recently revealed the test was a success and that it is negotiating with Apple for ”thousands” of the devices for its fleet. The carrier is reportedly planning to begin roll-out of the device on 55 aircraft later this month and says that, based on the popularity of the trial, the number of iPads allocated to each aircraft has substantially increased.
Malaysia Airlines
According to Flight International, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) also plans to introduce iPads onboardwithin the next six months. The carrier plans to initially introduce iPads on its A330s, which only offer main-screen entertainment, and MAS is also considering bringing iPads on board some of its B737s. Despite being a full-service carrier, MAS has not ruled out charging passengers a fee or deposit to use the iPad. One option could be for passengers to book an iPad with their ticket purchase. Read full article »
Singapore Airlines goes digital with in-flight magazines
6 August 2010 | Singapore Airlines has introduced an electronic version of its its three in-flight magazines – SilverKris (in-flight magazine), KrisShop (sales catalogue); and KrisWorld (entertainment guide) – on its KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system. The digital magazines will be high resolution and passengers will be able to choose their own font, search by keyword, and zoom in to aid reading. Singapore Airlines says it is the first in the world to offer an e-magazine. The e-magazines are part of a trial with a Singapore-based company, SmarttPapers Aviation. and Singapore Airlines says it eventual goal is to create a paperless aircraft.
The airline may extend the initiative at a later date to cover other publications, including menu cards and the more than 100 international and local magazines carried in the cabin. This is “in line with efforts to reduce the amount of paper carried on board, thus reducing weight and saving fuel”, the carrier said in a statement. “E-books and e-magazines have gained popularity and we want to offer these to our customers.” The digital magazines made their debut on 2 B777-300ERs on 31 July, and will be followed by 2 A380s, before being rolled out Singapore Airlines aircraft equipped with the Panasonic eX2 IFE system. Read full article »
