The IEEE Spectrum blog offers a wonderful overview on modern day IFE systems.
A Flightglobal.com article reports how carriers are upgrading their IFE systems in an attempt to distinguish themselves from their competition and to boost ancillary revenues. Carriers are pushing to entertain and connect passengers by offering in-flight broadband and/or in-flight live direct broadcast video. Recent research from MultiMedia Intelligence suggests the market for in-flight broadband services is poised to grow to $936 million in passenger revenue in 2012, up from initial revenue of $6.6 million this year. Similarly, the market for in-flight live direct broadcast video is projected to grow from $87 million in 2007 to $913 million in 2012.
The annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax (carried out between August 2007 and June 2008) has annointed Emirates’ ICE system the best airline IFE for the fourth consecutive year. The Emirates system edged out Singapore Airline’s KrisWorld which came in second again. Other strong performances in the survey were again achieved by Cathay Pacific (3rd) and Virgin Atlantic (4th).
Portable media player maker digEcor announced that long time customer Pacific Blue has placed an order to upgrade to the company’s digEplayer XT. The digEplayer XT features an 8-inch TFT screen, integrated credit card reader, 60 gigabyte or larger hard drive, USB 2.0 port, and two independently controlled headphone jacks. The content provided by digEcor which will include: movies, TV, music, music videos, and video games. Pacific Blue will be renting the digEplayer XT’s to passengers exclusively on international flights from Christchurch and Auckland to Australia as well as on all flights to the Pacific Islands.
Harvard Business Review Ideacast episode 107 discusses Singapore Airlines’ strategy that is allowing them to thrive in the current downturn in the industry by focusing on the customer experience and using marketing as an investment. Harvard Business School Professor Rohit Deshpande speaks based on his HBS case study “Singapore Airlines: Customer Service Innovation.” Deshpande says that Singapore Airlines brings its customer service focus to all cabins, even if it’s making its money off of the front of the plane. “They give more frills to economy than any airline,” he says. “They were the first in-seat TVs and offered more channels than any airline. They have, even in economy, more flight attendants per passenger.”
Delta announces plans to equip their entire fleet of more than 330 aircraft with in-flight WiFi service to be available in first and economy classes by Summer 2009. The Aircell Gogo service will run $9.95 or $12.95 for trips under or over three hours, respectively, and will allow connection of any WiFi enabled device.
Qantas A380 Virtual Cabin Tour: The new Qantas A380 is on sale now for selected flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles for travel from late October 2008. The Qantas A380 is also on sale for selected flights from Sydney to Singapore and London for travel from mid January 2009.
Cathay Pacific Virtual Cabin Tour: all three classes in their new aircrafts have been upgraded to give you more comfort, personal space and individual privacy in the air. Have a look at the new First, Business, and Economy classes.
