October 1, 2015 – Singapore Airlines has partnered with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to launch the airline industry’s first companion mobile app, intended to personalize the passenger experience.
“We believe personalization will be the one of the key trends in the inflight experience going forward, and we’re very excited Singapore Airlines shares that vision,” stated Paul Margis, president and CEO of Panasonic Avionics. “The symbiosis of the onboard IFEC network and the travelers’ personal devices will be the key to a seamless travel process. As the launch customer for our companion application functionality they will deliver the first mobile app ever that spans across the whole travel process.”
Using the software development kits and API’s available through Panasonic’s Open Platform IFE strategy, Singapore’s companion app features will immerse passengers in the airline’s Krisworld IFE experience both on and off the aircraft. Before their flight, Singapore’s guests can enter their flight details and review the upcoming entertainment choices for their trip. They can watch movie trailers, read reviews and synopses, and even queue movies, TV shows, and other media that they will want to view on their flight. They can also read the in-flight magazine, find information about the aircraft, and access destination information.
Once onboard, Passengers simply synchronize their mobile device to their seat and call up their queue of preferred entertainment or review the entire media library onboard. The app also lets passengers control their entertainment experience right from their own personal electronic device.
The Companion App also creates a second screen for passengers, where they can review the entire in-flight entertainment library, read a digital inflight magazine, or watch the moving map, without interrupting their movie.