App, App And Away
How airlines are tapping into mobile app engagement
When American Airlines closed a deal that gives passengers access to the full library of Apple Music for the duration of their flight, it signaled a shift in midair entertainment trends. The partnership is indicative of the increasing overlap between travel and app-based technology, particularly collaborations designed with comfort in mind.
Several major airlines have partnerships with meditation apps, including Virgin Australia with Smiling Mind, Air France with Mind, and Virgin Atlantic with Headspace, the last of which reaches over 800 million passengers a year. The exercises, conceived to reduce travel-based anxiety and stress, are available through the airlines’ in-flight entertainment systems. “[Passengers are] demanding more services as they appreciate the benefits technology can bring to their journey,” said Ilya Gutlin, president of air travel solutions at SITA.
SkyLights, a French developer of virtual reality headset technology, is challenging passengers’ perception of in-flight entertainment altogether. The company introduced a program curated for kids, using VR goggles linked to movies. The trial piqued the interest of Alaska Airlines, who launched an experimental program using SkyLights’ technology with first-class passengers. Back on the ground, virtual reality tourism programs allow travelers to explore the world without boarding a plane or even stepping outside their house.
This story is brought to you by guest writer Madison Andrews.
Sources: Vane (May 30, 2019) | Lifewire (June 16, 2019) | Image: Laura Pittaccio