Last year, Meta set the stage for a new wave of in-flight entertainment by teaming up with Lufthansa, one of Germany’s major airlines, to introduce their Quest 3 headsets to passengers. Encouraged by the program’s success, Meta is now eager to partner with more airlines to take airborne XR entertainment to the next level.
Meta made headlines when it unveiled the Travel Mode feature for the Quest 2 and later models. This innovation was designed to counter the motion discrepancies that have plagued VR enthusiasts traveling by land, sea, or air. With this advancement, virtual reality has taken a significant step forward, improving the VR experience for travelers.
Building upon the Travel Mode initiative, Meta launched a trial program this past June, cleverly dubbed a “pilot program,” on selected Lufthansa flights. Passengers in the luxurious Allegris Business Class Suites were handed Quest 3 headsets, offering them a unique opportunity to watch movies and TV shows on virtual screens, delve into spatial and 360-degree videos, indulge in guided meditations, and even engage in games like Connect Four and chess.
Meta reported that their collaboration with Lufthansa was well-received, engaging nearly 4,000 passengers with this futuristic in-flight entertainment. The positive feedback has inspired Meta to expand its offerings to a broader range of airlines in the foreseeable future.
Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs, expressed her excitement: “This activation marks a pivotal moment in the development of our Travel Mode and immersive services. We’re now focused on expanding this offering to more airlines and optimizing our product suite.”
While Meta remains tight-lipped about which airlines are next in line for this experience, it’s likely the service will be rolled out for Business and First Class passengers. These cabins, after all, come with a bounty of perks such as lie-flat seats, noise-canceling headphones, gourmet dining options, and premium beverages.
This venture isn’t the airline industry’s first foray into XR headset experiences. Back in 2015, Qantas, based in Australia, became a trailblazer in this space by offering Samsung Gear VR to first-class passengers, followed by similar trials from airlines like Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines, though these initiatives have since been discontinued.
Overall, Meta’s continued investment in immersive technology paints an exciting picture for the future of in-flight entertainment, making long journeys more engaging and enjoyable.
