After years of false starts, the in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) industry has reached a watershed moment where virtually every type of airline - from legacies and no-frills carriers to regional operators - are studying and adopting IFEC solutions, with countless vendors entering the market.
Studies show 91% of airlines either offer or plan to offer airborne connectivity, "which means all the major airline companies see this as a vital service to provide to customers", said Pal Bjordal, chief executive of mobile connectivity company AeroMobile.
AeroMobile will have its mobile connectivity platform - branded eXPhone by partner Panasonic Avionics - installed on two Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330s this week. The same solution is already offered on a large portion of Emirates' fleet.
Also underscoring the strategic shift described by Bjordal, Delta Air Lines has launched in-flight internet on a Bombardier CRJ700, and is in the process of rolling out the Gogo-provided, air-to-ground solution on 250 regional jets. Delta already offers Gogo on its 550-strong mainline fleet.
"With the addition of Gogo in-flight internet service on Delta Connection two-class regional aircraft, more than 81,000 additional customers daily will be able to stay connected, just like they do onboard Delta's mainline fleet," said Bob Kupbens, Delta's vice-president of eCommerce.
In Europe, meanwhile, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced it has finalised an agreement with Panasonic Avionics to install its eXConnect in-flight internet and eXPhone solutions on the airline's fleet of domestic, pan-European and intercontinental aircraft. SAS plans to introduce the service at the end of this year.
Another offering that could prove attractive to the market is IFEConneX, a new lightweight modular system from TriaGnoSys and Siemens that provides GSM mobile connectivity, in-flight wi-fi and wireless streaming of IFE content to passengers' own devices.
All the necessary airborne hardware is small and light enough to be mounted within the ceiling panel, said TriaGnoSys, adding that IFEConneX connects to the aircraft's existing communications system and has the flexibility to be used over any radio link, including Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, Ku-band, Ka-band and direct air-to-ground links.
"This is the perfect solution for any aircraft that does not have an embedded IFE system. It is a complete communication and entertainment system in one small box," added TriaGnoSys managing director Axel Jahn.
Source: Flight International
