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| Passenger using personal electronic device to view in-flight entertainment with AirFi. Photo: AirFi |
[Avionics Today 04-04-2016] Dutch flagship carrier KLM is actively trialing the AirFi box portable In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) solution onboard Boeing 737 passenger aircraft serving the carrier’s daily flights between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Madrid, and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Istanbul. The airline currently has no embedded IFE on its single-aisle fleet, thus adding the AirFi box would expand entertainment options on the airline’s European routes to customers with Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs).
During the four-month trial period, KLM will evaluate the content delivery capabilities, data collection opportunities, passenger uptake and operational feasibility of the AirFi portable IFE devices. Through to early summer, passengers flying these selected KLM flights can use their personal mobile devices to connect to a free onboard Wi-Fi network created by AirFi boxes and positioned throughout the cabin in overhead bins. Once connected, passengers enter a 100 percent KLM-branded environment called KLM in the Cloud where they are free to enjoy newspapers, get destination information, browse a retail selection, etc.
“The KLM-AirFi pilot brings content on board, without the need to make aircraft modifications. The feedback from the first weeks, both from our crew and responses to our survey, shows the interest of our customers … AirFi continues to make adjustments to the setup and usability,” said Joost Blom, project manager of product innovation in-flight at KLM.