Do Seatback Screens on Planes Have a Future? — Airline Innovation Report
Photo Credit: Delta Air Lines is one of the few carriers investing in both in-seat entertainment and fast Wi-Fi. Pictured is Delta's new premium economy for long-haul flights. Delta Air Lines
Skift Take
Seatback entertainment screens are so 2002. Airlines should remove them and focus on what their highest-value travelers actually want — fast, reliable Wi-Fi. Passengers who care about quality entertainment can load up their own devices with stuff they actually want to watch. Or they can stream from a server on the plane.
The Skift Airline Innovation Report is our weekly newsletter focused on the business of airline innovation. We will look closely at the technological, financial, and design trends at airlines and airports that are driving the next-gen aviation industry.
We provide insights on need-to-know developments in passenger experience, ancillary services, revenue management, loyalty, technology, marketing, airport innovation, the competitive landscape, startups, and changing passenger behavior. The newsletter, sent on Wednesdays, is written and curated by me. We will look closely at the technological, financial, and design trends at airlines and airports that are driving the next-generation aviation industry. You can find previous issues of the newsletter here.
What's the point of embedded in-flight entertainment systems?
They're heavy. They're not as sophisticated as consumer electronics. They break more often than airlines would like. They rarely have enough content to satisfy all pa
