In the latest stage of its upgraded product reveals, Air India has stated that it will offer a library of over 2,200 hours of inflight entertainment (IFE) content across several formats and genres, including 1,000 hours of movies, 600 hours of TV, and 600 hours of audio (see below). The new IFE content will be available via the Panasonic eX3 IFE systems on Air India’s long-haul fleet, including the A350, newly inducted B777-200LR, and other incoming new widebody aircraft.
Air India took delivery of the first of its 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft in December, with five more scheduled for delivery through March 2024.
Air India’s legacy widebody fleet, the interiors of which are scheduled to undergo complete refurbishment starting in the second half of 2024, will subsequently feature the new IFE system and expanded content offering, as part of a US$400 million retrofit programme.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & managing director of Air India, said: “As Air India takes flight into a new era with the arrival of our A350 aircraft, so does our guests’ entertainment experience. This complete overhaul in our inflight entertainment offering mirrors the dynamic transformation underway at Air India. We’re redefining what it means to fly with us, and this world-class IFE system and carefully curated content are a cornerstone of that commitment.”
What’s on?
Air India guests will have access to content ranging from Bollywood blockbusters to Hollywood premieres, global music icons to documentaries, and the new Air India Radio.
Indian content:
From timeless classics like Sholay and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, to contemporary Indian cinema like Kantara and Drishyam 2, Air India guests will be able to choose from over 250 Indian movies spanning decades and genres. The new content catalogue offers a spectrum of regional cinema, with 76 Indian regional movies in eight languages, in addition to a host of popular web series and digital content.
Hollywood blockbusters:
The Hollywood collection will cater to all tastes, offering close to 200 Hollywood movies, including BAFTA and Oscar-winning titles, along with latest nominees such as Barbie and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One. Guests will also be able to binge-watch entire franchises such as Harry Potter, Spider Man, and Despicable Me.
International favourites:
Air India’s global cinematic repertoire spans 14 languages, including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Danish, Icelandic, and Dutch, among others, featuring critically acclaimed films from around the world.
TV and digital content:
Air India’s in-flight library boasts 900+ episodes of Western, Indian and international TV shows and digital content, spanning many genres and categories. Guests will be able to enjoy content from ‘behind-the-wall’ as Air India’s new IFE will feature a selection from the biggest streaming and OTT platforms, including Paramount, HBO, Prime, Sony Liv, Hulu, etc. There will be over 40 full series to binge onboard, including titles such as the award-winning Succession, The Last of Us, Yellowstone, Reacher, and great British dramas such as Sherlock, The Night Manager, and Dr Who.
Introducing Air India Radio:
The exclusively programmed Air India Radio takes passengers on an auditory journey, with podcasts including Cup O’tales (an Air India special edition series on the history of cricket World Cups), a music collection of 800 choices from every genre, and over 60 curated playlists. The music collection features classic albums from pop, rock, dance, jazz, classical, Bollywood, Ghazals, Hindustani & Carnatic Classical, Indipop, Indian Regional, and more.
Kids Zone:
Young flyers will enjoy a selection of over 55 hours of audio and video content, divided into three dedicated sections: Pre-school, Kids, and Teens. Featuring in these sections are favourites such as CoComelon, Blippi, Oddbods, Baby Shark, Mickey Mouse, Karadi Tales, and the complete Pretty Little Liars series.
3D moving map experience:
Air India will feature Arc, an immersive inflight map experience from Panasonic Avionics Corporation, aboard its A350 fleet. Arc’s Explore mode is a fully interactive experience that lets passengers explore the world’s geography, read curated city guides, and zoom in to street map views of select cities. Arc provides real-time flight data and world clock time zones, among other features.
Full HD experience on touchscreens:
The viewing experience aboard Air India’s A350 aircraft will offer a flexible and modular architecture, and full-HD 1080p monitors in every travel class. Business class guests will enjoy a 21-inch HD touchscreen, while Premium Economy and Economy guests will view 13.3-inch and 12-inch HD touchscreens, respectively. The IFE systems will feature capacitive touchscreens and handsets, USB and AC power, and personalised user interfaces.
New headsets in all cabins:
Aboard the A350s, Air India’s Business class and Premium Economy guests will be provided with active noise-cancelling headsets. Guests in Economy class will be provided reusable earphones, packaged in eco-friendly pouches.
