Entertainment & Connectivity

Viasat & InflightFlix to Stream Video Destination Guides

September 10, 2019 | Written by Howard Slutsken

Pictured (left to right) Viasat's VP Commercial Mobility, Don Buchman; and Martin O Regan, managing director, Inflightflix. Image: Vance Walstra — Pictured (left to right) Viasat’s VP Commercial Mobility, Don Buchman; and Martin O Regan, managing director, Inflightflix. Image: Vance Walstra

A new partnership between Viasat and Inflightflix will enable passengers to stream destination guides to their personal electronic devices.

Ancillary in-flight revenues are increasingly important to airlines, with destination video guide content expected to generate more than $800 million by 2026, according to Valour Consultancy.

To help airlines target this opportunity, Viasat and InflightFlix have partnered to stream specially created content directly to passengers’ personal electronic devices. Airlines will generate a fixed monthly payment for each aircraft displaying the content at no extra cost.

Driven by Viasat’s wireless in-flight entertainment platform, video guides for each destination in the airline’s network will be produced by InflightFlix to match their brand, and video guides will be automatically selected according to each flight’s destination.

Destination guides have become increasingly popular with travelers who are looking to personalize their travel experience by getting advance information before exploring a new city.

“We are passionate about connecting passengers with destination experiences throughout their journey” – Martin O Regan, Inflightflix.

The company’s highly customizable video content includes the Top 100 experiences in destinations around the world, for multi-platform distribution – in-flight, online and on social media.

“At InflightFlix, we put the passenger at the center of everything we do and are passionate about connecting passengers with destination experiences throughout their journey,” said Martin O Regan, chief executive officer, Inflightflix. The company has produced over 1,000 videos and destination video guides for hotels, tour operators, tourism agencies and airlines.

Don Buchman, vice president and general manager, Commercial Aviation at Viasat, added, “In partnering with InflightFlix, we can further grow Viasat’s portfolio of ancillary revenue products aimed at helping airlines monetize the passenger journey.”