In-flight entertainment (IFE) is basically the only reason there isn’t mass mutiny on long-haul flights. And, thankfully, in-flight technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Gone are the days when passengers had to crane their necks to catch a glimpse of the one screen playing a heavily edited, family-friendly film, located at the front of the plane. Now, a number of airlines offer personal screens at every seat.
Some have even implemented bring your own devices policies, which allow passengers to connect to entertainment via in-flight WiFi like gogoair. Approximately 37% of passengers carry tablets, 40% carry personal computers, and more than 80% carry smartphones, according to the 2014 FlightView survey in North America. So putting entertainment into the hands of passengers is a logical next step both as a cost saving measure for airlines, and as a customer experience for passengers.
Related: what’s trending in the global air travel services market?
New research from Technavio indicates that the global in-flight entertainment market is expected to grow from $3.03 billion in 2015 to $5.58 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 13%.
Our research team has whittled down the top seven vendors helping to make air travel less dismal with in-flight entertainment.
Top 7 In-flight Entertainment Companies
GEE provides Wi-Fi internet connectivity solutions to airlines through Ku-band satellite transmissions. It also offers media applications and premium content services that allow passengers to access in-flight internet, on-demand content, shopping, live TV, and flight and destination information.
Gogo provides a comprehensive suite of connectivity solutions for commercial and business airline operators globally. It offers embedded IFE and wireless IFE solutions (under the brand name Gogo Vision) to both business and commercial aviation customers. As of January 2016, the company had installed its Gogo Vision wireless and embedded IFE systems on over 2,400 commercial aircraft, as well 6,800 business aircraft.
Lufthansa Systems offers its IT solutions to 300 airlines worldwide. It has developed a wireless IFE platform, namely BroadConnect, which enables passengers to watch movies, shop, or find flight information using their mobile, laptops, or tablets. This entertainment platform can also be tailored as per the requirements of the airline customers.
Panasonic Avionics offers a comprehensive array of IFE solutions that meet the requirements of airlines’ wireless, seatback, retrofit, and linefit solutions. The company provides home theater entertainment experiences to the airline passengers, including HD content, games, applications, and communication services. It also offers IFE systems under the X series brand name, which integrate monitors, handsets, servers, and software to ensure enhanced IFE experience and robust business platform for the passengers.
Rockwell Collins provides IFE systems and associated services to its commercial aviation customers. It offers audio and video contents that augment in-flight passenger experiences. Its product portfolio includes overhead systems, pre-programmed contents, and in-seat entertainment systems that enable passengers to experience video or audio entertainment options as per their preferences.
Thales Group provides IFE and passenger connectivity systems to the commercial aviation industry. The company has been one of the prime suppliers of IFE systems to Airbus for last eight years. As of December 2014, Thales Group had installed IFE systems in more than 1,300 aircraft from 78 airlines globally. Its IFEC division operates 30 facilities across the world, and offers its IFE systems under the brand name, AVANT.
Zodiac Aerospace, through its Zodiac Entertainment & Seat Technologies division, provides IFE solutions for commercial aircraft. It provides an IFE system, under the brand name RAVE, which allows passengers to access audio-video on demand (AVOD), as well other contents. As of 2015, the company has installed its RAVE Seat Centric solutions in over 300 operational aircraft with more than 200 in the order backlog.
View the 2016-2020 Global In-flight Entertainment Market Report
