Page 22 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FeatuRe IFE

Getting Personal

How BYOD is influencing the passenger experience
By Subodh Agarwal

PassenGeRs Who Want MuCh MoRe Eagle Entertainment Inc. to bring this service and crew to make in-flight phone calls,
choice and personalisation from their inflight to passengers. The library features over 225 browse the web, see their location and much
experience are increasingly switching to use hours of video and audio content, including more.
of their own devices during flights. leading Hollywood films and TV shows. SKYfi is based on the Airline Network
New findings from SITA’s annual Gaurang Shetty, Whole-time Director Architecture connectivity platform, which is
Passenger IT Trends reveal that passengers of Jet Airways, said, “Streaming of content currently installed on more than 650 aircraft
are enjoying their inflight entertainment and on personal devices has become extremely with various airlines across the world.
connectivity (IFE&C), but are more likely to popular globally, and we are confident that There can be no doubting the value that
connect through the increasing number of this initiative will appeal to all our guests, a high-quality IFE offer adds to the wider
devices they have brought with them. especially the millennials who prefer to passenger experience. Recent developments
The increase in popularity of ‘binge access content on the move.” – ranging from Singapore Airlines’ launch of
watching’ and the increasing number of Saudia, also known as Saudi Arabian the Companion App to provide second screen
portable electronic devices (PEDs) being Airlines, recently said it will be installing KID- technology on its new A350s, to Air Transat’s
brought on board – a trend known in the Systeme’s SKYfi Club wireless platform on introduction of pre-flight downloads for its
industry as ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) its aircraft to bring a variety of IFE content to Boeing 737 services – aptly highlight this
– are shaping airlines’ IFE&C strategies now passengers. point.
and impacting how they will look in the future The platform is coming to the the As the needs and demands of passengers
India’s Jet Airways has launched its airline’s A330 and A320 fleets and it allows continue to change, airlines are constantly
new ‘JetScreen’ IFE&C system, to offer passengers to access content such as adapting their IFE & C systems to ensure
passengers the ability to stream content on movies, magazines and books from their own they stay relevant. While it is widely accepted
their own devices. devices. It is part of the ‘Saudia SKYfi’ brand, that embedded IFE screens are here to stay
The airline has been working with Global which also features solutions for passengers – at least on long-haul services operated
22 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA