The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bluebox is really taking off with entertainment system deal Down Under
Thousands of airline passengers in Australia will soon enjoy an expanded range of in-flight entertainment, all thanks to a Dunfermline company.
Bluebox Aviation Systems has won a contract to provide QantasLink – the regional arm of the airline giants – with its Wow wireless in-flight entertainment (W-IFE) system.
Bluebox Wow is a lunchbox-sized unit, typically stowed securely in overhead bins. 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 also offers onboard retail services, including the ability to order and pay for products and services.
That will give passengers access to movies, TV programmes, audiobooks and podcasts through a wireless network.
The company previously developed technology to help people with visual impairments access inflight entertainment.
Bluebox business development director David Brown hailed the deal. He said it was a “very positive milestone” for the Dunfermline company.
Mr Brown said: “It’s not insignificant that we’re demonstrating our W-IFE systems can replicate offerings of traditional aircraft avionics-based installed systems. We’re proving the value of lowcost W-IFE systems across larger fleets.
“Just as Bluebox Wow expanded the market for IFE in its original battery 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 touchfree retail, and more as inflight services develop.”
In-flight entertainment will be available on up to 180 Qantas and QantasLink aircraft. Qantas group chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said: “This investment means more of our customers will have access to in-flight entertainment.
“With Australia’s vaccination rollout gaining momentum we expect demand for travel will quickly return and this will make it even better when it does.”
We’re proving the value of lowcost W-IFE systems across larger fleets