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      A Portal Beyond Wi-Fi: Reaktor Wins Best In-Flight Connectivity Innovation Award

      October 25, 2016  | Written by Ari Magnusson
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      Finnair's Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal is accessible from smartphones and tablet devices.
      Finnair’s Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal is accessible from smartphones and tablet devices. Image: Finnair

      APEX Insight: Reaktor was acknowledged at last night’s APEX Awards ceremony after taking the award for “Best In-Flight Connectivity Innovation” for Finnair’s Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal.

      Available on Finnair’s Airbus A350 fleet, the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal connects passengers to a vast range of services beyond wireless Internet. Reaktor, the Helsinki-based digital agency who designed and developed the wireless platform, created the portal on the premise of building passenger peace of mind and reducing cabin crew workload. Passengers can use the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi to access the Blue Wings digital in-flight magazine, live news content updated every 10 minutes, destination information, taxi and hotel booking services, online shopping and the airline’s online services free of charge.

      According to Reaktor, the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi platform has reduced  cabin crew workload by making the ancillary shopping and sales process quicker. When passengers order snacks, drinks and duty-free items from either seatback IFE screen and personal devices, cabin crew members are notified immediately via Wi-Fi connected tablets instead of taking orders in person.

      Reaktor developed the system using a Node.JS server, meaning it can provide over-the-air updates to the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal without any pre-loaded software or time-consuming content updates. It also allows Finnair’s accompanying Nordic Sky Entertainment seatback system to display information relevant to specific flights such as meal options in economy class and synchronizing the in-flight entertainment backgrounds with the aircraft cabin mood lighting colors.

      The platform has also helped Finnair fine tune its onboard duty-free catalog. The airline formed destination-based retailing partnerships with Finnish fashion boutiques Makia Clothing and Ivana Helsinki in February and April, respectively. Since then Finnair sells exclusive items from both company’s seasonal collections via the Nordic Sky Wi-Fi portal. Passengers can buy items from clothing brands from their smartphone or tablet and have orders delivered to any Finnish postal address or hotel.