Air India Upgrades In-Flight Entertainment with Smart New Tech, Taking a Cue from Vistara

Air India, recently taken over by the Tata Group, has faced complaints about delays and broken in-flight entertainment (IFE). But that’s about to change.

Travelers on Air India flights have started seeing options for connecting to “Vista inflight entertainment,” which involves turning on WiFi and visiting a specific URL on their devices.

Air India is partnering with Bluebox, a top provider of streaming IFE solutions, which also powers Vistara’s “Vistara World” app. With Vistara merging with Air India soon, this move is expected to improve Air India’s IFE.

What is Bluebox WOW?

Bluebox WOW creates a wireless network on the plane, covering the entire cabin. It can store up to 1.6 Terabytes of movies, TV shows, music, and games. The device is lightweight and stowed in the overhead bins, with a battery life of up to 15 hours of streaming. Passengers can access content without needing a specific app by visiting a website on their devices.

This system is cost-effective for Air India, as it avoids the expense of installing heavy seatback screens and headsets. Maintenance costs are also reduced.

Upgrading the Experience

Air India is refitting its planes to offer three classes of service. Most Vistara planes are also three-class, which will help standardize services after the merger. This refit allows Air India to add more seats despite increasing the number of classes.

Unlike the seatback IFE popularized by Kingfisher Airlines and later adopted by Jet Airways, this new system is more flexible and economical. Jet Airways had limited its IFE to international flights due to high costs and low utilization.

IndiGo is also testing a new IFE solution and plans to introduce business class cabins this year, bringing it into competition with Air India.

Looking Ahead

Air India had planned to refurbish its wide-body fleet in late 2024, but there have been delays. The decision to implement Bluebox technology could be due to these delays and supply chain issues.

So, next time you fly with Air India, look out for a blue box in the overhead compartment and enjoy in-flight streaming on your personal device.