QantasLink – the regional airline of the Qantas Group is to provide entertainment aboard its fleet, with the airline opting to install Bluebox’s Wireless In-Flight Entertainment System (W-IFE) onboard.
QantasLink Airbus A320 – Image, QantasLink.
Bluebox Aviation Systems has been selected by QantasLink to deploy its Bluebox Wow W-IFE system on QantasLink’s fleet, initially on Airbus A320 aircraft, then expanding to its Fokker F100, Boeing 717, and Alliance Airlines’ Embraer E190 aircraft.
The Bluebox Wow system will provide entertainment content directly to passenger devices over a captive wireless network.
The Bluebox Wow W-IFE system will be deployed on QantasLink’s fleet, initially on Airbus A320 aircraft, then expanding to its Fokker F100, Boeing 717, and Alliance Airlines’ Embraer E190 aircraft.
QantasLink Boeing 717 – another BlueBox W-IFE installation candidate. – Image, QantasLink
When installed, the Bluebox Wow system will enhance the regional airline’s service on board, providing entertainment content directly to passenger devices over a captive wireless network.
The IFE content will include movies, TV, audiobooks and podcasts. Access to the Bluebox Wow system will be integrated with the Qantas Entertainment app to help facilitate a seamless flight-to-flight IFE experience, but will also be available app-free with simple browser access for anyone who does not have the Qantas Entertainment app loaded on their device.
The Bluebox Wow aircraft-powered option will be deployed, which will also have fully automated PA Pause functionality. This is provided and fitted via an EASA STC, recently awarded for the A320 Family aircraft and which will be modified for use on the other aircraft in QantasLink’s fleet.
The W-IFE System
At Economy Class and Beyond, we’ve talked about the BlueBox W-IFE system a few times.
Bluebox WOW W-IFE system – Image, Bluebox
It is a small, lunchbox-sized unit, typically stowed securely in overhead bins. It acts as an IFE server aboard an aircraft, where it provides wireless content streamed to passenger devices in any aircraft cabin, including a wide range of film, TV, audio, games, and other digital content.
BlueBox Wow box delivering content wirelessly as shown at Aircraft Interiors Expo – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The content can be offered on a complimentary (as QantasLink are doing) or in a paid-for model. It also offers g the ability to order and pay for products and services via passenger devices with full inventory synchronisation, in parallel to traditional sales from galley carts via cabin crew point-of-sale devices.
Devices can be battery powered- allowing them to be removed and recharged, or wired into the aircraft power supply.
In Quotes
David Brown, Business Development Director, Bluebox said
“Recently receiving our STC on the Airbus A320 Family for our aircraft-powered version of Bluebox Wow system, and now being able to announce Qantas’ selection of Bluebox Wow for its QantasLink network, are two exciting and very positive milestones for us to mark as our industry begins to emerge from the global pandemic,”
“It’s not insignificant either that we’re demonstrating that our W-IFE systems can replicate offerings of traditional aircraft avionics-based installed systems and proving the value of low-cost W-IFE systems across larger fleets. Just as Bluebox Wow expanded the market for IFE in its original battery-operated form, we’ll now see it capture more of the W-IFE market, given its lower cost of deployment and digital platform scope for everything from entertainment to touch-free retail and to even more as digital in-flight services develop.”
Offering entertainment to connected passengers
The value of IFE varies depending on the airline, where some will happily install screens and an IFE server on every plane, whilst for shorter segments, that value may be diminished by the usage and the weight of carrying that system aboard.
By using a lightweight BlueBox WOW server, passengers can connect to it – which reduces both the lifetime cost of provisioning IFE to customers, as well as not having to install other hardware such as screens.
This leads to a reduced cost of ownership – along with the licencing costs for content.
For those who wish to fly QantasLink, there will be something to amuse you when you fly.
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