Grab a headset on your next Alaska Airlines transcon flight from Boston. A partnership with SkyLights is bringing virtual reality as an entertainment option to the US market for the first time.
APEXEXPO
Aeromexico confirms Viasat connectivity on MAX fleet
Aeromexico confirmed its plans to add Viasat’s Ka-band connectivity on the 737 MAX fleet. The announcement at APEX Expo this morning confirms the long-rumored plans between the two and adds 18 planes to the Viasat fleet in North America. Aeromexico has options for an additional 60 MAX planes to be fitted with the Viasat kit.
Airconnect Go set to stream on Canadian North Airlines this winter
Flights in the Great White North will be a bit more entertaining this winter. Global Eagle announced Canadian North Airlines as the launch customer for its Airconnect Go portable streaming IFE solution. Installations will begin
EXPO Preview: What’s on tap this week
The annual APEX EXPO is less than 24 hours away and anticipation for this year’s event is high. Many suppliers are promising big new throughout the week. In the inflight connectivity world it remains to be seen if anything will top the Panasonic Avionics/Inmarsat announcement from last week. Of course new order announcements are anticipated and will likely be big news. But what additional news will develop during the week?
Can a new recline reshape long-haul economy travel?
Does the type of seat recline make much of a difference for long-haul, economy class travel? The Quadra from Optimares is a unique seat option that just might change the passenger experience.
Bringing a 360 view to the moving map
Can a more immersive moving map experience turn more passengers into inflight shopping customers? A greater opportunity to both entertain and engage passengers is part of the proposition from FligthPath 360; and maybe some purchases, too.
When the IFE system can watch you back
Is it the ultimate surveillance scenario or a step forward in the passenger experience? Or maybe a little bit of both?? Vendors are cooperating today to deliver integrated biometrics in the inflight entertainment system, tying together a camera embedded in the screen with connectivity to various other platforms that can act on the data.
Delivering big PaxEx improvements over a low bandwidth connection
Can a slow inflight internet connection deliver real passenger benefits? In many cases it is better than nothing and Lufthansa Systems is talking about ways to integrate such into a low-cost solution for airlines.
XTS is dead. Long live XTS. Panasonic sees "radical change" coming
Has the LEO/MEO revolution spooked Panasonic Avionics? "Radical change" is coming according to VP Global Sales David Bruner, putting the company's 6-payload XTS Ku-band network on a new track.
Air Europa’s streaming upgrade: Next-gen from BoardConnect
Air Europa’s short-haul passengers are getting an IFE upgrade next year, thanks to BoardConnect from Lufthansa Systems. The latest iteration of the platform includes plenty of new features, but getting rid of the battery could prove a tipping point for the product.









