Author: Jane Boland

Inflight Dublin has been selected by MIAT Mongolian Airlines to provide inflight entertainment (IFE) Content and Wireless solutions.

Inflight Dublin will be deploying its Wireless IFE solution, Everhub™, on four of MIAT’s aircraft including three B737’s and one B767. The DO-160G certified hardware will be complemented by the Everhub™ browser-based software which features a Graphical User Interface (GUI) in both Mongolian and English. MIAT will have access to the back-office Control Centre which enables them to manage aspects of the Hardware, Software, and Content offering as well as update their own advertisements.

MIAT will also have access to detailed analytics with IFD Insights and manage Duty Free and Food and Beverage orders through the dedicated Crew App.

Next up in the ‘Sitting Down With’ series is Inflight Dublin’s Metadata Team Lead and expert, Rika Argadireja. She discusses the importance of high-quality metadata in the IFE industry, challenges faced, and predicted trends for the future of IFE metadata. Enjoy!

How much importance is placed upon IFE metadata when it comes to working with airline clients?

Metadata management for inflight entertainment is essential – without good metadata, content may never be chosen to watch! Any data that we put onboard will be seen by the client and most importantly, their passengers, so it is a core selling tool to entice passengers to view the content. At Inflight Dublin, we ensure that any information, synopsis, or images we provide are of the highest quality and are age and culture appropriate based on the airline’s requirements. Furthermore, we do a number of internal quality checks before signing off the metadata to be delivered to the airline.

What are the main challenges the Metadata team faces each cycle and how do you tackle them?

No two days are the same in the metadata department. We face a range of challenges during every update, from managing strict overlapping deadlines during busier months, to having to edit the content images we’re putting onboard so they’re SFW (safe for work). Fortunately, we can rely on our ever-improving time management and task planning, and there’s nothing a little Photoshop magic can’t solve!

Is there any unique processes or methods that IFD uses to ensure the delivery of accurate and timely metadata?

To ensure complete accuracy, we do thorough quality control for every airline client. Once we’ve completed the metadata entry on the integrator’s documents or portals, we would manually check the information we’ve uploaded, make any necessary changes, and double-check again after any corrections have been made. We also work with other internal departments in Inflight Dublin, such as the Account Management department, to do final metadata checks before signing off.

And to deliver metadata in a timely manner, we meticulously record and track all the deadlines we have for the month in our internal system. The Metadata team also work very closely together and keep a constant communication stream open to work as efficiently as possible – in some instances where there are tight deadlines, the team will work collaboratively with tasks so deadlines are always met without any delay.

Do you predict any changes or trends in the future of metadata in terms of what passengers expect or want to see on their seatback screens or personal devices?

Another responsibility of the Metadata team is the managing of our clients’ microsites. These have become even more popular to have as it allows airlines to provide an up-to-date and interactive content catalogue to excite their passengers before their flight and encourage engagement with the system.

The popularity of Wireless Inflight Entertainment systems is also growing rapidly. These require additional Metadata requirements that Inflight Dublin has extensive experience with, particularly with our own wireless IFE system, Everhub. I think passengers are starting to expect multiple ways to view and learn about the content on board, such as they do at home. This will result in more thought going into how the content and metadata is displayed and accessed by passengers to give them the most immersive and enjoyable inflight entertainment experience.

Want to learn more about Inflight Dublin’s services? Get in touch mail@inflightdublin.com

Inflight Dublin has received a Technology Award for its Everhub iPad Solution in the PAX Tech International Awards.

With the ceremony taking place in Hamburg during AIX, Inflight Dublin was on site to accept the award that was chosen by PAX International subscribers over a number of months.

This is another award that Inflight Dublin has won for its Everhub product, after being placed on the Top 10 Aviation Solution Providers list by Aerospace Defense Review in 2021.

The Everhub iPad Solution

The Everhub iPad solution is an extension of Inflight Dublin’s reputable Wireless IFE solution which leverages the robust infrastructure to deliver content remotely to a server anywhere in the world. As well as this, the flexible Everhub software has been future-proofed as it can easily be configured to any IFE system, including iPads. The Everhub iPad solution is an innovative way for airlines to provide additional inflight entertainment options on board, with passengers having access to pre-loaded content chosen by the airline on the latest generation iPad devices.

Inflight Dublin’s cloud-based CDS (Content Delivery System) uses AWS and the latest technology and has been developed and fine-tuned over the years to continually enhance the content delivery process. To further support this product, Inflight Dublin developed a native app version of the distinguished passenger application to host the content on iPad devices. As with all Wireless IFE clients, the airline can have this native app fully customized to reflect their brand and layout preferences. The sync and charge station also has the capability to charge and update up to 32 iPad devices simultaneously, making the turnaround time in between flights swift and efficient.

The Benefits

• Content delivery efficiencies – Content is quickly and seamlessly delivered remotely to the server anywhere in the world, allowing airlines to load content and get it on board in the quickest turnaround time.
• Dynamic IFE offering – Inflight Dublin uses the latest generation of iPads for the ultimate content-viewing experience. It gives airlines and passengers additional ways to enjoy IFE on board as well as traditional seatback screens and Wireless streaming to passengers’ own devices.
• Seamlessly blends and aligns with the airline’s other IFE systems – Inflight Dublin can customize the native app to the finest detail required by the airline so that all IFE systems are synergized under the one brand.
• Cost-savings – Airlines save time and money due to reducing the delivery of drives and other physical items, as all content delivery is done over the cloud.

Flying with: Qatar Airways Group

Initially being chosen to supply the Everhub iPad Solution to Qatar Executive, the project was expanded to service Qatar Airways and Qatar Amiri Flight after a successful initial rollout.

Inflight Dublin initially delivered over 200 pre-loaded iPads to the three airlines in the Qatar Airways Group in September 2021, and this has later grown to 500+. The interactive media application features a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that is designed to replicate Qatar Airways’ illustrious IFE brand, Oryx One, making it a truly immersive and brand-aligned experience. The pre-loaded iPads are available to Qatar Airways Business Class passengers on selected flights as well as on Qatar Executive and Qatar Amiri Flight.

Inflight Dublin has been selected by Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bhutan, to provide its end-to-end wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) solution, Everhub™.

As part of a 5-year partnership, Inflight Dublin will initially be equipping three of Drukair’s A319 and A320 aircraft with its Everhub™ Wireless IFE solution. Consisting of Hardware, Software and Content, Drukair’s passengers will have access to a wide range of content including Hollywood Blockbusters, Local Movies, TV shows, Audio, and frequently updated Newspapers and Magazines.

The GUI is available in the local Dzongkha language to make the platform even more accessible and user-friendly to Drukair’s passengers. An interactive catalogue of retail and food and beverage products will be available for passengers to place orders directly from their own devices. This will integrate with Inflight Dublin’s innovative Crew App which Drukair will be utilizing to manage and fulfil orders on board.

“This partnership with Drukair further extends Inflight Dublin’s stance in the Asian market as we continue to successfully partner with many reputable airlines in the region. The versatility of the Everhub solution is gaining the attention of airlines that need a full end-to-end IFE and retail capability and we look forward to delivering this and provide an engaging digital experience to Drukair and their passengers.” – John White, Inflight Dublin’s CEO.

After a successful trial, Inflight Dublin has been chosen by Wideroe to provide a full rollout of its Wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) solution, Everhub™, as part of a 3-year deal.

From May 2022, Inflight Dublin will expand Everhub to cover a fleet of 15 aircraft made up of Bombardier Q400’s and Embraer E2’s. The content package includes the latest Hollywood movies, TV Shows and Gladi8tor games. Wideroe will also have access to IFD Insights with reports detailing the performance of the Hardware, Software and Content offering on board.

As part of the expansion, Inflight Dublin has partnered with Global Onboard Partners to generate revenue for Wideroe through the promotion of destination services. “We are excited to be working with Wideroe and Inflight Dublin to bring all the destinations to life for Wideroe passengers on the Everhub solution. Wideroe Destination Explorer provides passengers with the opportunity to explore all destinations, win rewards, and receive special offers, while paying Wideroe ancillary revenue at 3-5x more than previous programs.” – Kirk Adams, Global Onboard Partners’ CEO.

“We are delighted to see another trial of Everhub turn into a full rollout. The integration with GOP will also be a great addition to Wideroe’s IFE offering. This is just one of many exciting integrations that Inflight Dublin will be introducing on Wideroe’s Everhub platform – adding a passenger-engaging and revenue-generating service on top of an already successful streaming platform.” – Barry Flynn, Inflight Dublin’s CCO.

Inflight Dublin has been selected by Philippine Airlines (PAL), the flag carrier of the Philippines, to provide a trial of its Wireless IFE solution, Everhub™.

Beginning in April, Inflight Dublin has equipped a range of aircraft within PAL’s fleet including A330, A350 and B777 aircraft with the Everhub™ solution. The package consists of Hardware, Software and Content, as well as Inflight Dublin’s intuitive data analytics platform, IFD Insights™. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is fully tailored to PAL’s brand requirements and is available in Tagalog, a new language added by Inflight Dublin to make the experience even more accessible to PAL’s passenger audience. The Content package includes Hollywood Blockbusters, Classic Movies, TV Shows and Documentaries, as well as PAL’s own promotional videos and a survey in the dedicated ‘Your Flight’ section.

PAL is the largest international carrier in the Philippines, servicing over 35 domestic and 42 international destinations. Its mission is to deliver safe, reliable, efficient and pleasant travel experience and to exceed passenger expectations.

“We are delighted to begin this partnership with Philippine Airlines and to further expand our services in the Southeast Asia region. It gives us great pride to demonstrate the remarkable capabilities of Everhub that allow us to deploy a robust solution to airlines in a matter of weeks. We look forward to delivering a compelling and engaging experience to PAL’s passengers in the coming weeks.” – John White, Inflight Dublin’s CEO

About Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the Philippines’ flag carrier and only full-service network airline. PAL was the first commercial airline in Asia and celebrated its 81st anniversary in March 2022. PAL’s young fleet of Boeing 777s, Airbus A350s, Airbus A330s, Airbus A321s and De Havilland DHC-8-400 Next Generation aircraft operate out of hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations in the Philippines and 31 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East. PAL was rated a 4-Star Global Airline by Skytrax in 2018 and was voted the World’s Most Improved Airline in the 2019 Skytrax worldwide passenger survey with a ranking of 30th best airline in the world.

Next up in the ‘Sitting Down With’ series is Inflight Dublin’s CTO, David Miller. He discusses the standout features of Everhub, Wireless trends such as advertising and integrations, and where he sees growth in the industry. Enjoy!

What steps does Inflight Dublin take to ensure they are up to date with the latest technology trends in the industry?

We closely monitor trends and developments in the industry, and conduct research to identify areas where we could innovate and develop our existing offering. A key source is client feedback and requests made for additional features. So, for example, we have seen a demand for hybrid systems where airlines want to mix both portable and aircraft-powered servers across their fleet. We have also seen a growth in the combination of wireless IFE with onboard connectivity. However, our deployment with Qatar Airways for the Everhub Preloaded iPad solution shows us there is still demand for native application support.

What are the standout hardware and software features of the Everhub solution that make it so versatile?

When we developed our own Everhub server we were able to learn from our experiences with other systems – what worked well and what didn’t. This allowed us to deliver a low-maintenance experience to our airline clients when it comes to implementation and operational management. For example, features like the swappable batteries without any downtime in-flight, and the touch screen interface makes life that bit easier and more efficient.

On the software side, we have focussed on rolling out a single product architecture and feature set which can be reused across all clients and on all supported platforms (including portable and fixed wireless systems). So, as we add new capabilities, we can make these available to everyone. Over the last two years, we have been building out Everhub as a platform for partner integrations, including Games, Advertising, Destination Services, and Payments. All these integrations have been modularized, allowing clients to “pick and mix” as required.

Think of Everhub as a shop, and we can have a variety of content and services available in the shop window.

How do you see the demand for Wireless IFE developing in the coming years? Do you think more airlines will adopt it alongside seatback?

Absolutely, based on the enquiries we are getting now we can see a trend growing for wireless IFE adoption. This has been driven by several factors including the increased rollout of narrow-bodied aircraft for long-haul routes, as well as the desire to offer more ancillary services to airlines using the wireless IFE product as a platform. In addition, COVID-19 has driven the growth in demand from a cost reduction, flexibility and hygiene perspective.

As mentioned above, we can see growing interest in the “extended platform” – where we not only provide IFE, but a means to deliver a range of services from ourselves and our partners.

What are some key areas that Inflight Dublin differentiates from its competitors in the wireless space?

Where Inflight Dublin stands out is the ability to deliver a one-stop-shop to clients. We offer exciting content, our own fully-certified hardware, and flexible software for multiple platforms and partner integrations, all delivered with our own implementation and design services from a highly skilled and experienced in-house team.

Our Everhub trial system has been very successful in growing demand and demonstrating the proven value the system brings to airlines’ inflight service. We can have a new client up and running in a matter of weeks.

Key to our offering is holding to a vision for an integrated baseline product that can be grown as required. Not only for the wireless streaming capability but also for the back-office analytics which all clients have access to as part of the offering. In addition, given our CSP heritage, there are several new initiatives we can drive to support the end-to-end life cycle for our clients.

Want to learn more about Everhub™? Get in touch mail@inflightdublin.com

Inflight Dublin has been chosen by Novair to provide its end-to-end wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) solution, Everhub™.

Beginning in February, Inflight Dublin will initially be equipping Novair’s fleet of A321 aircraft with a 6-month trial of its Everhub™ Wireless solution consisting of Hardware, Software and Content. The fully certified server houses the Everhub™ software platform which can be accessed via a web application on passengers’ personal devices. Customized to align with Novair’s brand requirements, the user-friendly GUI allows passengers to easily navigate the system and browse the latest Hollywood blockbusters, TV Shows, International content, Documentaries, Games and digitized Publications available on board.

Novair operates a fleet of A321 neos to both traditional Mediterranean destinations and long-distance destinations. Novair was recently sold to Danish Jet Nordic Group, who also operate Jet Time.

“With Everhub™, Novair will benefit from an innovative digital solution that generates revenue and reduces their environmental impact while also entertaining their passengers with a broad content package tailored to their unique audience. We are delighted to be working with Novair on this project and we look forward to engage and delight its passengers on board.” – Barry Flynn, Inflight Dublin’s CCO 

2019 seems a long time ago, right? Back then, it was smooth sailing for the movie industry:

• Audience numbers were up.
• Records were getting smashed at the box office.
• And fresh content was being greenlit left, right and centre.

Then a certain virus came on the scene and caused all sorts of trouble. Cinemas shut, productions stopped, and delays ensued. The world of movies – from creation to release to consumption – was turned upside-down.

Fast forward to today, some two-ish years later: where are we? Has the industry recovered, or is it stuck in the doldrums? Have any new trends emerged? What’s changed, and what’s stayed the same?

Let’s take a look.

The Return of the Blockbuster

2019 was a big one for blockbusters. Here are the top ten performers at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo:

What a time it was: nine titles broke the billion-dollar barrier, and the top two, Avengers: Endgame and The Lion King, are currently the 2nd and 8th highest-grossing films of all time.

As Variety reported here, the global box office return was a monstrous $42.5 billion – a new record that, I suspect, will last for some time.

Compare this to 2020.

The best-performing Hollywood title, Bad Boys For Life, brought in $42.5 million – less than a sixth of what the previous year’s number one (Avengers: Endgame) accrued. Tenet‘s return amounted to $36.3 million: Chris Nolan’s lowest since 2006’s The Prestige.

Overall, as per Deadline, the global gross dropped 71% to $12.4 billion from its 2019 heights. Ouch.

And 2021? The data certainly makes for interesting reading:

The year’s story was, of course, Spider-Man: No Way Home. The 6th highest-grossing movie ever (this could still improve: it’s still in the cinemas!), it outperformed its predecessor, Spider-man: Far From Home, by nearly $700K – despite the restrictions around the world. Excellent work, Spidey.

No Time to Die did very well too. The oft-delayed conclusion to Daniel Craig’s Bond stint was met with near-universal praise, and brought in the second-highest gross for an English language title.

Overall, it says something when the 9th best performing title of 2021 (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) brings in more than 2020’s number one. That “something” being:

• The movie industry is gradually recovering.
• Audiences are hungry for movies.
• The pull of the Hollywood blockbuster remains strong.

Marvel’s Enduring Popularity

According to the 2021 data, four of the year’s top 10 performers were part of the Marvel canon:

• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Venom: Let There be Carnage
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and
• Eternals.

And then there’s the aforementioned Black Widow, which just missed out. Combined, the total gross for all five amounted to a princely sum of around $3.5 billion.

Evidently, fourteen years after Iron Man, the MCU still has immense pulling-power worldwide.

And, looking at the upcoming Marvel movies in 2022, this isn’t going to change anytime soon: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are all on the way, with more in the pipeline for 2023 and 2024.

Movie Genres

A lot has changed over the last two years, but then again, some things have stayed the same: like our love of explosions, guns and car chases

Action is, by some distance, the most popular genre globally.

Nine out of ten of 2021’s best performers were action-orientated, and the likes of Dune, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and The Matrix: Resurrections all made the top 30.

It’s a similar story in 2022. Chinese blockbuster Water Gate Bridge leads the way, with a hefty gross of $480 million. Bucking the trend of video game movies underachieving at the box office, Unchartered has a gross of $140 million (so far), while The 355 sits comfortably in the top ten too.

Onto animation. 2019 was an incredible year for the genre: seven made the overall top 20, and two (The Lion King and Frozen II) accrued the 2nd and 3rd top grosses of the year.

2020 was challenging, but things are getting better. Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto and Sing 2 did well in 2021, and with Lightyear, Sonic 2, Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse, Minions: The Rise of Kru, and Pinocchio on the horizon, 2022 could – whisper it – see a return to 2019 levels.

And what of the music biopic? So hot a few years back I even wrote a post about it (click here if you’re interested).

It does seem that demand has cooled lately. The Aretha Franklin movie, Respect, did decent business, but overall 2020 and 2021 were barren years for the subgenre. The heady days of Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody seem a while ago now.

However, there’s some in the pipeline for 2022: Austin Butler’s Elvis looks promising, and word is there’s an Ozzy Osboure movie on the way too. So you never know. Like Queen at Live Aid, a comeback could be on the cards.

Last but not least – horror.

With the likes of A Quiet Place, Midsommar, Get Out! and Hereditary, it’s been a vintage few years for the genre, both with the movie-going public and the critics.

The trend continued in 2021: A Quiet Place: Part 2 was the 14th highest-grossing movie of that year, and Halloween Kills exceeded expectations, bringing in $132 million.

However, most impressive (and perhaps surprising) of all is the confusingly-titled Scream: the 5th instalment in the self-referential slasher series, it’s the second best performing Hollywood film of 2022 so far.

The Rise of the Non-English Movie

When Parasite won the Best Foreign Language Golden Globe in 2020, director Bong Joon-ho memorably said this:

So, two years on, did we, as an audience, get over the barrier? Was Parasite the watershed cultural moment that many thought it would be?

Well, sort of.

On the one hand, there’s little argument that Hollywood titles still dominate the global box office. For instance, in 2021, just three of the top ten weren’t in English.

Still, it’s an upswing when you consider that, in 2018 and 2019, every title was an English-language one.

Also, as mentioned, the Mandarin movie Water Gate Bridge currently sits atop this year’s box office rankings, while behind it in 2nd is another from China – Too Cool to Kill.

The signs for independent features are encouraging too.

Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers and Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari outperformed a number of big-budget Hollywood titles, while Das perfekte Geheimnis was the second highest-grosser in Germany, surpassing F9: The Fast Saga and Dune.

All positive signs, for sure. We mightn’t have clambered over the one-inch barrier just yet, but we’re getting there.

Final Thoughts

So, strange and exciting times in the movie world.

Some things have changed, like the increased popularity of non-English titles, while others have stayed the same: the dominance of the action genre and the demand for Marvel titles, for instance.

Also, although numbers aren’t what they were in 2018 and 2019, it’s still encouraging to see grosses recover significantly in 2021 from the miserable lows of 2020.

And there are more reasons for optimism in 2022.

Scream and Unchartered‘s unexpected box office triumphs are a welcome boost, and there are so many big hitters still to come: The Batman,  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World: Dominion and Lightyear, to name a few.

Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be interesting!

If you’d like to learn how we source the most on-trend content for our clients – and how we can do the same for your airline – get in touch at mail@inflightdublin.com.

After a successful temporary deployment on their B767 aircraft, Inflight Dublin has been chosen by Condor, a long-standing client of over 10 years, to provide a full rollout of its Wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) solution, Everhub, to cover their entire narrowbody fleet.

From April, Inflight Dublin will expand their wireless IFE solution to cover 35 aircraft including A321, A320 and B757 aircraft. Inflight Dublin’s proven platform is now even more user-friendly as passengers will be able to easily access the web-based app by scanning a QR code on the back of their seat. The content package includes the latest Hollywood movies, TV Box Sets, bespoke Audio Playlists, Life & Culture documentaries and local German content as well as Gladi8tor games.

This latest rollout is part of a broader strategy between Inflight Dublin, Condor, and other key stakeholders to create a seamless passenger experience and expand their retail and revenue generation capabilities.