Thursday, August 22, 2024 Air India, the nation’s premier international airline, has recently rolled out its cutting-edge wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) service, Vista, across its current wide-body fleet. This launch is part of Air India’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the passenger experience by offering continuous entertainment throughout their journey. Vista’s introduction marks a significant upgrade for passengers, providing uninterrupted access to a wide array of entertainment options until the fleet undergoes its planned retrofit.
Once this phase is complete, Vista will also be extended to the airline’s narrow-body aircraft, ensuring a consistent and enjoyable experience across the entire fleet. The Vista service is powered by Bluebox, a renowned provider of digital services that has received multiple awards for its innovative solutions. The service is implemented on Bluebox’s advanced Blueview digital services platform, delivering content through the Bluebox Wow wireless network system.
This collaboration leverages Bluebox’s expertise to ensure that Air India passengers have access to a high-quality, seamless entertainment experience while in flight. Passengers using Vista can easily stream a diverse range of content directly to their personal electronic devices. The selection includes an impressive lineup of Bollywood blockbusters, the latest Hollywood releases, popular music from around the globe, and engaging documentaries.
With this extensive collection, Air India passengers can enjoy some of the world’s best content, all conveniently accessible at their fingertips during their flight. The service also includes a live map display feature, allowing travelers to track their flight’s progress in real-time. Designed with compatibility in mind, Vista is accessible on a wide variety of devices, including those running iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.
This broad compatibility ensures that passengers can effortlessly connect to the IFE system regardless of their preferred device. By providing such a versatile platform, Air India is meeting the diverse needs of its global customer base, allowing them to enjoy in-flight entertainment on their own terms. The introduction of Vista represents a significant step forward in Air India’s mission to offer world-class services to its passengers.
By combining state-of-the-art technology with a rich selection of entertainment, the airline is setting a new standard for in-flight experiences. As Vista becomes available on more aircraft, Air India continues to solidify its position as a leader in the global aviation industry, dedicated to delivering exceptional value and comfort to its passengers. Air India boasts a meticulously curated content library that offers over 950 hours of diverse entertainment, spanning various formats and genres.
The collection includes classic melodies, timeless favorites, BAFTA and Oscar-winning or nominated films, short films, and critically acclaimed series. Additionally, the library features specially curated content tailored for children, ensuring a wide array of options that are periodically updated to keep the offerings fresh and engaging for all passengers. In 2023, Blueview received the prestigious PAX Tech Readership Award for Technology, highlighting its innovative approach to enhancing the passenger experience.
This cutting-edge software platform provides a browser-based portal through which passengers can access a wide range of digital services, including onboard retail and in-flight entertainment, along with a dynamic moving map. Blueview’s underlying architecture ensures secure payment processing, content delivery, third-party app integration, content management, and analytics. This digital ecosystem allows airlines to engage and entertain passengers while also generating ancillary revenue.
Bluebox Wow is a key component in helping airlines quickly and cost-effectively deploy digital services to their customers. This award-winning hardware delivers the Blueview digital services platform wirelessly to passenger devices in any aircraft cabin. Remarkably compact, Bluebox Wow is the size of a lunchbox, making it lightweight and easy to deploy in overhead lockers.
Its scalability allows for use in various configurations, including a portable battery-operated version or a certified solution with a fitted partition, aircraft power, and additional features like automated PA pause. By integrating Blueview and Bluebox Wow, Air India enhances the in-flight experience, providing passengers with seamless access to a rich array of entertainment and digital services. The combination of these technologies ensures that Air India remains at the forefront of passenger engagement, offering a sophisticated and enjoyable journey for travelers.
This technological partnership not only elevates the in-flight experience but also demonstrates Air India’s commitment to leveraging innovation to meet the evolving needs of its passengers. With the ability to offer customized entertainment and services, Air India continues to set new standards in the aviation industry, ensuring that every flight is both enjoyable and memorable. Bluebox Aviation Systems Ltd.
Bluebox Aviation Systems Ltd. (Bluebox) specializes in creating and delivering innovative digital experiences for airline passengers across the globe. Their acclaimed digital services platform, Blueview, offers a wide array of services and content, either streamed directly to passengers’ personal devices or available via airline-provided tablets.
Blueview enhances passenger engagement and entertainment while also generating revenue for airlines through features such as onboard retail, advertising, and a rich selection of in-flight entertainment, including movies, TV shows, music, games, and more. The platform is compatible with various hardware options, including the award-winning Bluebox Wow portable wireless network system, as well as a linefit solution integrated into Airbus’ Airspace Link (OSP). Bluebox complements each deployment with a full suite of professional services, including design and development, project and content management, and highly praised ongoing customer support.
Based in Dunfermline, Scotland, Bluebox operates a robust global support network with presence in Europe, the United States, Australia, and Singapore. This extensive reach ensures that Bluebox can offer prompt and effective support to airlines wherever they operate. Air India Founded by the visionary JRD Tata, Air India has been a trailblazer in India’s aviation industry.
Since its inaugural flight on October 15, 1932, the airline has expanded to create an extensive domestic and international network. Air India now operates non-stop flights to major cities across the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, the Far East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Gulf region. After 69 years of government ownership, Air India, along with Air India Express, was reintegrated into the Tata group in January 2022, marking a new chapter in its storied history.
Air India is currently undergoing a significant five-year transformation as part of its Vihaan.AI initiative, which aims to elevate the airline to world-class status while retaining its Indian heritage. The first phase of this transformation, known as the taxi phase, has recently been completed.
This initial phase focused on addressing fundamental issues, such as returning long-grounded aircraft to service, recruiting new talent across both flying and ground operations, upgrading technology at a rapid pace, and enhancing customer care efforts. As a member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest global airline consortium, Air India offers passengers seamless connectivity and a range of facilities across the globe. This membership ensures that Air India’s customers enjoy a smooth and convenient travel experience, benefiting from the extensive network and services provided by leading international airlines within the alliance.
Air India’s ambitious transformation under Vihaan.AI is set to redefine its position in the global aviation landscape. The airline is committed to combining world-class service with its uniquely Indian character, aiming to deliver an exceptional travel experience to passengers worldwide.
As the transformation progresses, Air India continues to build on its legacy while striving to meet the highest standards of excellence in the industry..
