Australian low-cost carrier Jetstar is the first airline in the world to announce a pilot project to give passengers a new Apple iPad for in-flight entertainment.
The trial, beginning later in June 2010, is not driven entirely by a slurp of the iPad Kool Aid – passengers will have to fork out $Aus 10 (£5/$8) for the privilege, meaning the airline stands to add something to its ancillary revenue target once costs are met.
The airline is working with Bluebox Avionics and Stellar Inflight to provide the software and iPad handsets. Bluebox recently announced an airline would using its system soon.
Passengers on Jetstar will be able to access movies, music, TV shows, games and e-books as part of the in-flight system for the airline.
Restricted to a handful of routes around Australia initially, Jetstar chief executive Bruce Buchanan says if successful the service will be extended across the airline’s domestic and international network.
Apple says around two million iPads have been sold since the product launch in April. The device went on sale in countries outside of the US last week.
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About Kevin May
They already let you hire portable movie players for flights, so it’s really a logical extension of a service that is in place right now. The only problem I see is that most people have iPhones or will be getting iPads, so it might be pointless for them.
I guess it’s be silly to ignore what could be another revenue stream, though.
I agree with Graham – renting an iPad is somewhat pointless given a much larger potential opportunity for US airlines for WiFi, IFE, and in capitalizing on the battles going on between Netflix, Amazon, Apple, etc.
If you’d like to have a look, I studied this in-depth and put together some slides back in January on how airlines should approach it.
Not sure if this pastes as a clickable link, but here you go…let me know what you think…debate is welcome…
http://www.slideshare.net/JonathanAlford/jonathan-alford-airline-digital-merchandising-public-dist-version-15feb10
PS – I know Jetstar isn’t a US airline, but hopefully the concepts can apply globally. Huge revenue potential…
Gee, I hope they sanitize them before they move’m around. H1N1 seems so far ago, huh?
They will, for sure… for a fee
Let me it! I want one now! Apple are so advancing I know it will be superior.
We introduced the ipad in one of our clinic and I have to say it is not just a toy but a really useful gadget if used properly.
It wouldn’t be surprising to me to see these types of gadgets as standard features/amenities in planes, cars, etc. over the coming years. Almost how GPS or navigation systems have become commonplace in vehicles.