Budget carrier to test IFE system on five Stansted aircraft
Ryanair has signalled a major departure in its no-frills policy by deciding to offer in-flight entertainment (IFE) on its low-cost services.
The airline expects the move to have an immediate impact on its bottom line, with at least €14 million ($17 million) in first-year earnings predicted from its new portable IFE system, which will be tested on selected London Stansted services from 1 November.
Known as the DigEplayer 5500, the system has been developed by Tacoma-based Aircraft Protective Systems (APS) and comprises a hand-held unit weighing about 1.5kg (3.3lb) with a screen the size of a small paperback book.
It has simple menu-selection and visual/audio controls, much like a portable digital versatile disc (DVD) player, except that the entertainment programme is stored on a 40Gb hard drive. It operates on a 10h battery.
Ryanair is committing to 6,000 units initially and will offer the system on five Stansted-based aircraft to begin with, providing 24 units on each flight.
If the trial is successful, the carrier will make the system available across its entire Boeing 737-800 fleet by March.
KLM has also signed a contract for an unspecified number of DigEplayers which it will initially offer in the first-class cabins of its Boeing 737s.
APS founder and chairman Bill Boyer says that the system will provide a range of entertainment, including films, pre-recorded television programmes, music and games.
Boyer, a former baggage-handler for Alaska Airlines, developed the DigEplayer idea after Alaska cancelled plans to install a dedicated IFE system on more than 80 of its aircraft.
Alaska Airlines now uses the APS equipment - it has reserved 5,000 units - while Canadian low-cost carrier Jetsgo offers the system on flights lasting for 3h or longer.
DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW / LONDON
Source: Flight International
