Lufthansa Systems Goes Portable With BoardConnect
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This article originally appeared in The APEX EXPO Daily Experience – Day One.
APEX Insight: Lufthansa Systems’ portable BoardConnect platform is ideal for airlines servicing short- and medium-haul markets that don’t offer embedded seatback in-flight entertainment. The portable and classic BoardConnect solution also allows for rapid updates of content and enables airlines, such as its recently announced customer of the classic platform, leisure-travel airline, Neos, the ability to offer personalization.
Lufthansa Systems has released a portable version of its BoardConnect wireless in-flight entertainment platform, the German technology services provider announced Monday. The launch customer is Italian-based Air Dolomiti. BoardConnect Portable combines all technical components needed for an IFE system into a single Mobile Streaming Unit (MSU) device. The MSU is approximately the size of a tablet, weighing less than 3.5 pounds. A separate integrated modem allows airlines to wirelessly refresh content while the aircraft is on the ground.
The portable option is especially ideal for airlines servicing short- and medium-haul flights because it avoids the high cost of permanently installed hardware. It eliminates intrusive cabling, fitting and certification – and can easily be mounted out of the way on galley walls, making it accessible for all aircrafts.
BoardConnect has had over 2.5 million downloads since its launch.
Lufthansa last week also announced a five-year contract with the Italian-based leisure airline Neos for its classic BoardConnect solution.
“With BoardConnect we can offer our passengers exactly the kind of modern in-flight entertainment that matches our brand,” said Carlo Stradiotti, CEO of Neos in a press release.
And Neos’ brand is a rather particular one. As the official airline of the Italian tourism company, Alpitour, the airline specializes in flights for various travel providers. “Passengers and airlines expect more and more personalization,” shares Norbert Müller, senior vice-president, BoardConnect, Lufthansa Systems. “An airline like Neos, who serves tour operators, faces the demand to provide dedicated content for the different tour operators and their customers onboard because [they] want to differentiate their offer from their competitors.”
In addition to flexibility to customize, BoardConnect’s new On-Ground Portak allows passengers to build playlists and select movies pre-boarding, as well as keep up to date on information regarding their destination, affiliate offers and important flight information.