Eurowings has equipped over 70 of its A320 aircraft with a new portable IFE system in just one weekend.
The Lufthansa low-cost subsidiary described the move as “the biggest go-live of a portable IFE solution for a well-known airline to date”.
The Lufthansa Systems owned Board Connect Portable technology, which powers the carrier’s Wings Entertain IFE offering, allows passengers to access over 400 songs, movies, TV shows, games and audiobooks, as well as an onboard shop, information about airports and destination cities, and a map showing the aircraft’s position.
Travellers can connect to the system “immediately after boarding”, and after landing until the aircraft is at the gate.
The Board Connect Portable technology is contained in a single Mobile Streaming Unit, around the size of a tablet and weighing less than 1.5kg, allowing the low-cost carrier to equip aircraft quickly.
Eurowings said that the technology “eliminates high costs for hardware, fitting and certification and enables the system to be transferred immediately for further use in leased aircraft as well”, adding that “an integrated LTE modem allows rapid wireless updates of content while the aircraft is on the ground”.
Commenting on the offering Oliver Wagner, CEO of Eurowings said:
“An innovative IFE solution like BoardConnect Portable fits very well with our business model. With Wings Entertain, we are offering our passengers a modern entertainment platform and thus improving their travel experience.
“And not only that – thanks to our large partner network and the ability to integrate paid content and marketing campaigns, we can generate additional revenues with the new IFE system.”
More information on the Wings Entertain system, including pricing and the routes on which it is available, can be found here.
Singapore Airlines recently announced an interline agreement with Eurowings, to allow passengers to connect with Eurowings flights at Dusseldorf and Munich.
Eurowings serves several UK destinations including Birmingham, East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester, and recently launched new US routes from Cologne to Boston, Las Vegas and Miami.
