Alaska Airlines will soon deliver a virtual reality entertainment option on board, a first in the domestic US market. The carrier announced this morning that it becomes the first carrier to bring SkyLights’ new Allosky Cinematic VR entertainment to North American airspace. The end-to-end solution, which enables passengers to escape to another world and enjoy 2D, 3D and forward-facing 360° films on a Full HD cinema screen, will be piloted as a First Class amenity on Alaska Airlines’ Seattle-Boston and Boston-San Diego routes.
Alaska Airlines is excited to be the first airline in North America to trial virtual reality headsets as an inflight entertainment device. We’re thrilled to partner with innovative companies like Skylights that share our desire to enhance the guest experience. – Brett Catlin, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of guest products.
SkyLights first demonstrated its Allosky device, which offers Full HD resolution (1080p per eye), a sleek, lightweight design, Bluetooth and WiFi at the Airline Passenger Experience (APEX) Expo in September 2017. It has since secured customers in Europe and now brings the product across the Atlantic Ocean. This deployment is just a trial and only in a couple markets, but it is a big step for the relatively small IFE player.
“The Allosky is now ready to deploy and we are delighted to see it take flight with an airline renowned for its customer experience. We strongly believe the Allosky marks a new age in in-flight entertainment and we aim to validate this in North America with the help of Alaska’s First Class passengers,” said David Dicko, SkyLights’ CEO.
Passengers on the pilot flights will be able to choose from 2D and 3D blockbusters provided by SkyLights’ partners 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and EIM. Noteworthy titles include Academy Award winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Spielberg’s Ready Player One in 3D, and Ferdinand. The Allosky VR headsets will also be preloaded with forward-facing 360° films to further differentiate the passenger journey. Especially selected for their suitability to view inflight, the short VR films cover subjects including free diving, classical music and acrobatics.
More from APEX EXPO 2018
- EXPO Preview: What’s on tap this week
- Airconnect Go set to stream on Canadian North Airlines this winter
- Aeromexico confirms Viasat connectivity on MAX fleet
- Alaska Airlines adds SkyLights’ VR headsets to IFE lineup
- New livery, free drinks, free wifi coming to Aer Lingus in 2019
- PAC picks up an IFEC a pair
- Ka-band inflight connectivity to take flight in China
- Air France Connect brings inflight wifi live on board
- Another tiny lavatory preps for flight on American Airlines
- PaxEx Premium: Digging deeper on the Inmarsat/Panasonic strategic partnership
- Now boarding: Bluetooth audio connections
- PaxEx Premium: Does Spirit have a secret for selling wifi?
- Finnair ends free trial, rolls out wifi charges
- Bringing IoT to flight: Sensors, alerts, payments and more from APEX EXPO 2018
- PaxEx Premium: LEO connectivity testing reaches new heights
- PaxEx Premium: A LEO milestone for Global Eagle, Telesat
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