2 hrs ago
Air India to launch connected IFE platform, boost ancillary revenues
Air India is building a new entertainment system for passengers to use during flights.
It will start putting the system on some new planes in the second half of 2027.
The system will show movies and programs, but it will do more than that.
Passengers may also use it to learn about trips and buy travel services.
A map feature could help them book experiences connected to places they are flying over or visiting.
The system may remember where a passenger stopped watching a program.
Air India hopes the system will make flying more convenient and generate more extra revenue.
It will eventually be used across much of the airline’s long-distance fleet.
Air India will progressively deploy its in-house Vista Digital Platform from the second half of 2027.
The platform will combine entertainment, loyalty, commerce and travel services through connected in-flight entertainment systems.
Deployment will begin on new wide-body aircraft and later expand across wide-body planes and Airbus A321 XLRs.
A commerce-on-map feature could let passengers book destination-related experiences and travel services.
The platform is designed to improve personalization, speed up content and service launches, and increase ancillary revenue.
- Who
- Air India, led on the project by Chief Digital and Technology Officer Satya Ramaswamy.
- What
- The airline is introducing the in-house Vista Digital Platform, a connected in-flight entertainment system combining entertainment, loyalty, commerce and travel services.
- Where
- On Air India flights, beginning with new wide-body aircraft and later extending across its wide-body fleet and Airbus A321 XLRs.
- When
- Progressive deployment is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.
- Why
- To improve passengers’ digital experience, speed up delivery of services and content, and increase ancillary revenues.
Key facts
- Platform
- Vista Digital Platform
- Developer
- Air India is developing the platform in-house.
- Initial rollout
- Second half of 2027
- Initial aircraft
- New wide-body aircraft
- Planned expansion
- Air India’s wide-body fleet and Airbus A321 XLRs
- Key feature
- Patent-pending commerce-on-map capability
- Fleet orders
- Air India Group has ordered almost 600 aircraft, with less than 10% delivered.
Quotes
Satya Ramaswamy
Air India’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer
“It (new platform) allows us to finally monetise the captive audience that we have in front of our screens (in flight)”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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