In-flight films axe?

[Rainsberger]

Hi Guys

 

In-flight films could soon be axed from long-haul flights out of the UK because passengers prefer to watch films on their smartphones and tablets.

WestJet, a low-cost airline, has said it will launch transatlantic flights out of London's Gatwick Airport next year without entertainment systems fitted on the back of seats.

 

Instead, they will stream films and TV programmes to travellers' handheld devices using a superfast wireless network system provided by satellites.

Removing in-flight entertainment systems will reportedly take more than 1,500lbs from each plane, allowing them to burn less fuel, ultimately reducing the cost of flying.

 

Richard Bartrem, vice-president of WestJet, told The Times: "Today, more than 80 per cent of our guests are boarding with a device.

"The new system will allow us to provide a better, more relevant service to our guests while continuing to offer low fares."

Instead of the traditional in-flight entertainment system, WestJet will offer passengers more than 450 films and TV programmes through its own entertainment system, WestJet Connect.

 

The content will be available for free.

To access the system, passengers will download WestJet's app on their smartphone or tablet, which will allow their device to access the airline's server.

The airline has said it will fit power sockets and USB points to each seat for passengers to charge their devices.

It is hoped that other airlines will follow suit if removing the standard entertainment systems allows for greater fuel savings.

[fostraswift]

seem like the way forward alright..longterm

most fleets have tvs in the seat already...

should be interesting

maybe in 5 to 10 years this will happen IMO

[dilloss]

They'll pass on the savings to the passengers of course.

[Stillearly]

I've never heard of WestJet , I doubt if any of the other airlines will be following suit anytime soon ..

[SLEUTH]

_{Just my luck to get the seat where the charging socket doesn't work and spend10 hrs looking over the shoulder while someone watches happy feet or ice age}

[Dalef65]

Here's another take on it..

 

A new low cost airline trying to break into an already overcrowded market and launching a transatlantic service is trying desperately to keep their start-up costs low.

 

So they don't offer IFE like everyone else does,but they try to present it to potential customers as if it is the way forward.

 

OPs post sounds like it has come from WestJet (who?) marketing manual.

[itchief]

WestJet is a Canada low cost airline, LOW COST, think Ryan Air.

[semi-retired member]

I've never heard of WestJet , I doubt if any of the other airlines will be following suit anytime soon ..

 

I agree, this is a cost-saving measure by just one established low-cost Canadian airline, who're just about to start flying from several Canadian cities, into Gatwick (among other places) and in-competition with Air Transat, using four newly-acquired B767-300s.

 

I flew a short (one hour) domestic-trip with them last winter, they did free plastic-cups of water,  eh lad  ...  luxury !

 

I doubt that we need panic just yet about this being the start of a new industry-trend.

[hairball]

Westjet is an extremely well run airline that offers shares to their employee's.

Clean,new planes and friendly staff make it the preferable domestic airline in Canada in my opinion.

It has definitely found a hole in the market and has done very well.

I have flown international with them as well and they were excellent.

If anyone can pull this off,it will be Westjet.

Very progressive airline that knows it market and does well within it.

[hairball]

Here's another take on it..

A new low cost airline trying to break into an already overcrowded market and launching a transatlantic service is trying desperately to keep their start-up costs low.

So they don't offer IFE like everyone else does,but they try to present it to potential customers as if it is the way forward.

OPs post sounds like it has come from WestJet (who?) marketing manual.

Hello there dale.Whilst Westjet may be new to you,it has been operating here for 20 years and is a major player in the North America. Market.

[Dalef65]

Hello there dale.Whilst Westjet may be new to you,it has been operating here for 20 years and is a major player in the North America. Market.

Yes ok I do take your point about them being around for a long time in North America.

But they are "new" to those of us in the rest of the world,and new to this particular route they are trying to break into.Hence they want to keep their costs down.

[T-T-T]

no airline is about to start ripping out the tv screens.. this is been tested by one airline .. and they they are not axeing inflight films they will just be delivered another way ie via your our device.

 

for every airline to upgrade to this system would be a huge financial thing to ground a plane... rip our all the tv's,  wiring . kit  and install a new system .  

 

they may do it on planned upgrades or refurbished but not anytime soon.  ... thai air still have planes without tv's   lol  they haven't even got that far yet 

 

new zealand air tested the sky sofa bed in economy nobody else has followed suit yet. 

 

wouldn't panic and if it does happen you get a tablet now for £50 any way

[Touchagrey]

Flew from the East Coast to Denver on United recently and the flight had their WiFi personal entertainment streaming installed. Seemed to work fine and had a decent selection. United's short haul fleet doesn't have seat back screens, so this seems like a reasonable solution. As I remember, TV shows and a limited selection of movies were free. No satellite or internet involved; some sort of video server onboard hooked into their in-flight WiFi system. Of course, you can also pay money to get internet connectivity, but they don't allow video streaming over the internet because of bandwidth limitations.

[Buddy Edgewood]

Well, if other airlines start doing that, I certainly hope they'll replace the screens in economy with electrical outlets so I can charge my phone/tablet/laptop.

[SlickMonkey]

Well, doent seem like they will save much.  Some of those tablets are not that light either and if u swap out a Inflight tv unit for a Tables I dont seee much weight savings.

[Harvey707]

Strangely and coincidentally I only noticed last week on Oman when the Flight Crew were collecting Head sets that the vast majority were still in there sealed bags when being returned

[wengweng]

I sincerely hope not, one thing I do love about the flight to Patters is watching the movies. It could be knew films I never got round to watching on dvd or some golden oldie, loved  watching  WAY OF THE DRAGON  up there in  the sky. I am not very knowledgeable on hi tech stuff, this laptop is the most up to date thing I have, and its at least five years old . The only  thing I  use it for  is watching  Youtube, porn and coming on PATTAYA  ADDICTS.         

[QuotaMan]

I enjoy the option of being able to view movies you may have missed during their run back home.

 

However, most of my time in flight is spent sleeping or reading my ebooks. So I may see one movie or so on my flight.

[soi23]

Does this mean a larger selection of porn ??

[itchief]

Does this mean a larger selection of porn ??

 

Only if Hooters Air returns and starts flying to BKK.

 

I think it is funny that WestJet does not have PTV on the 763's they are now flying, all of there 737's have them for the 1-2 hours flights.

[wimpy]

I usually just watch something on my iPad or read a book when I fly. I wouldn't miss IFE screens. Those screens are especially annoying when the person sitting behind me keeps jabbing the screen.

 

The idea seems very innovative.