As one of the most popular features on any inflight entertainment system the moving map offers a direct path to all manner of passenger interactions. Newer generations of the maps are adding ever more features and no platform is evolving faster on that front than the FlightPath3D solution. Indeed, it seems that 3D might no longer be enough. At APEX EXPO earlier this year the company showed off its FlightPath 360 product, adding a new layer of visual detail to draw travelers in to the platform.
We had rich satellite footage combined with street maps and destination content. And now we’re welcoming you to the world of 360 degree, panoramic, immersive views of major destinations around the world.
FlightPath3D President Duncan Jackson focused on the visuals the new map layer offers during the demonstration of the product. And, indeed, the imagery is impressive. But the real win comes not only in having those available but integrating them into the portal’s ancillary revenue ecosystem. Rather than just exploring the cities on the maps FlightPath wants travelers to explore them on the ground, hopefully through a tour or other event that sells tickets or services via the map.
Indeed, this is key to FlightPath3D’s value proposition to airline partners. The map serves as a base to support the other applications. This started with interactive Point of Interest (POI) details – data easily preloaded into the system on the ground – but Jackson believes much more is coming; the map is simply infrastructure for the experience. “I like to look at the use cases of ordering rides and looking at hotel information, consuming services…”
The POI integration today is a natural fit for such upsell options. Click on the icon for a sports arena and get details about the team’s record and schedule, with an option to purchase tickets. Ditto for music venues (e.g. the Sydney Opera House or Carnegie Hall). Answer a trivia question correctly about the Statue of Liberty and maybe receive a token discount on tickets to visit the landmark.
Even more impressive is that most of these transactions can be processed on board with minimal or zero connectivity to the ground. Lufthansa Systems‘ BoardConnect suite is pursuing a lightweight connectivity platform using Iridium NEXT as the bandwidth channel, for example. Integrating that with the FlightPath3D kits would enable 100% of the real-time transactions Jackson described. Even without that connection, however, some bookings are viable, with confirmation delivered once the flight lands. Requests made in flight can be batched and processed over a terrestrial connection once on the ground, generally completing before the aircraft door opens at the terminal.
FlightPath3D is not the only company pursuing this type of imagery for a moving map solution. PXCom highlighted a similar offering earlier this year, with live camera views rather than stored imagery.
The live aspect is very cool, especially during the takeoff and landing phases of the flight. But it lacks the retail and informative components that bring value to the FlightPath version of the moving map kit.
More from APEX Expo 2017
- Faster wifi flying on Singapore 777s
- Gogo Vision Touch IFE to launch on Delta’s CSeries in 2018
- Inflight connectivity coming to Interjet
- Global Eagle’s Ka connectivity takes flight
- Airbus’ Airspace A320s to Launch with JetBlue
- Boeing v Airbus on spaciousness and in-flight comfort
- Air Europa’s streaming upgrade: Next-gen from BoardConnect
- XTS is dead. Long live XTS. Panasonic sees "radical change" coming
- Delivering big PaxEx improvements over a low bandwidth connection
- When the IFE system can watch you back
- Bringing a 360 view to the moving map
- Can a new recline reshape long-haul economy travel?
- 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
- Gogo makes a China 2Ku play
- Cabin-wide Bluetooth audio to fly in 2021
- EL AL brings USB-C in-seat power online
- Viasat extends its SAS reach with long-haul planes
- JetBlue selects Thales AVANT for A220 IFE
- Moving Maps and much more coming to Vistara’s long-haul fleet
- PaxEx Update: APEX EXPO
- Inflight WiFi for JSX slips to 2020
- AERQ wants to be more than just a Welcome Board
- Long live the Queen: The Weekly Wrap
- Boeing enters the wireless IFE market with Digital Direct
- OneWeb, GDC Technics partner on new ESA solution
- SmartSky announces ATG availability for regional airlines
- Inmarsat, GDC celebrate 737 certification of Falcon 300 terminal for GX Aviation
- Anuvu adds $50 million for MicroGEO connectivity growth
- Malaysia Airlines plans IFE update with Flymingo
- Panasonic Avionics, OneWeb team for inflight internet service
- Anuvu boosts Ka-band connectivity with dual panel antenna
- Virgin Australia picks 2Ku for Wi-Fi boost
- Panasonic Avionics highlights Stellar Blu antenna for OneWeb LEO service
- Dimmable windows coming to the A350 with Starlux
- A first look at Spirit’s new seats
- Bringing the moving map online: Panasonic’s Arc gets a data feed
- Pairing, casting and streaming: The next generation of inflight entertainment emerges
- Starlink/JSX STC slips
- SLAs suck: Seeking a service specification shift
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