Vietnam Airlines has signed a two-year deal with AirFi to provide Wirless IFE (W-IFE) and in-seat ordering technology for their aircraft.
The deal covers equipment for 37 Airbus A321 aircraft, which currently have no IFE offering.
Each of the aircrat will be outfitted with a set of portable AirFi boxes, allowing passengers to stream content directly to their personal electronic devices.
An in-seat ordering function enabled by AirFi, which can be used to purchase hot and cold food, beverages, and duty-free items, will replace the airline’s existing trolley service. Passengers will also have the option to pay for certain duty-free items to be delivered to their homes after their trip.
The rollout has commenced and is scheduled for completion by mid-October when the solution is expected to go live. Once operational, the logistics surrounding the new technology will be managed by Vietnam Airlines at three airport bases: Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang International.
The move will complement what is currently offered by Vietnam Airlines, who have embedded seat-back entertainment on their Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 fleet, with some A321 also fitted.
In Quotes
Mr. Pham Trung Dung, Deputy Technical Director at Vietnam Airlines, commented,
“Vietnam Airlines is certified by SkyTrax as a four-star airline, and we continue to push towards five-star status. One of the ways we’re doing so is by introducing new products and services that will surprise and delight our passengers. AirFi’s solution promises to deliver a premium experience for travellers while generating increased revenue for the airline, which made for a compelling business case.”
Also commenting on the deal, Job Heimerikx, AirFi’s CEO, said,
“We’re immensely proud to have won a contract with the flag carrier in Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines. With the addition of this carrier, AirFi now has a stronger presence in the Asian marketplace than ever before. Our unique business setup gives us strong local relevance in any market so that airlines everywhere can embrace innovative cabin digitalisation and onboard sales solutions.
Bringing entertainment to the cabin
Whilst embedded screens are wonderful, there is a cost to installing, deploying and managing them. By deploying AirFi, it is possible to scale a rollout for a fleet quickly (with completion estimated by mid-October) and reap the benefits, both in terms of offering passenger entertainment and engagement through their own devices.
This allows for passengers to be entertained, as well as being able to simplify the onboard purchasing process.
For Vietnam Airlines, its a way of deploying an engaging IFE soultion rapidly.
And it’s another big win for AirFi.
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