South African Airways selects Inflight Dublin as Content and Wireless IFE Service Provider 

November 08

Dublin, Ireland, 8 November 2023 – Inflight Dublin (IFD) has been selected by South Africa’s flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), to deliver content and the market-leading wireless IFE product, Everhub.

Since October 2023, SAA passengers have enjoyed a captivating inflight entertainment (IFE) selection including Hollywood films, classics, extensive box sets, foreign language films, and African content.

“This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. IFD has vast experience in the region and can provide a first-class inflight entertainment solution, particularly the addition of content that highlights the rich culture and diversity of South Africa. We are also very excited to develop the offering on our narrow-body fleet through IFD wireless IFE offering, Everhub.”

Myriam Bracke, Lead Guest Experience, South African Airways

Additionally, passengers on aircraft not serviced with seatback systems will experience a wide variety of quality content through IFD’s Wireless IFE solution, Everhub, once a successful trial period has been completed. Everhub will host an SAA-branded, user-friendly GUI that passengers can engage with using their personal devices, providing access to all the latest content and features like a flight map, games, publications, and more.

“From our early days of providing inflight audio to now offering a full suite of content, as well as wireless IFE and digital services, we couldn’t be more excited to grow our strategic partnership with SAA. Inflight Dublin’s Everhub Wireless IFE product and our expertly tailored content will elevate SAA’s passengers’ experience to an unprecedented level.” – John White, CEO, Inflight Dublin

About IFD:

Inflight Dublin is a leading provider of inflight entertainment solutions, offering customisable content, digital advertising, and software services to airlines worldwide. The company has been delivering innovative solutions for over 39 years and has a reputation for excellence in the inflight entertainment industry.

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Inflight Dublin takes off with new airline Marabu

September 18

IFD has been chosen by Marabu to provide inflight entertainment (IFE), and wireless services across its fleet. Marabu is the first initial carrier in Estonia to offer such a comprehensive IFE solution.

Marabu’s fleet of Airbus aircraft will be initially equipped with the portable configuration of Inflight Dublin’s market-leading wireless solution, Everhub™, which will include DO-160G certified hardware, browser-based proprietary software, and a branded, multilingual user interface.

Moreover, IFD will provide a tailored entertainment package that will be inclusive of the latest movies, binge-worthy TV, an extensive games portfolio, and an interactive map.

“Launching a new airline is not an easy feat… particularly in the timescales we were targeting. As such, we required an IFE & Wireless partner that was efficient, flexible, and accommodating, which we found immediately in Inflight Dublin. Our ambitious vision was met with enthusiasm, creativity and their ability to provide a “one-stop-shop” for all required services gave us the confidence that Inflight Dublin was the partner of choice for Marabu.”

Diana Strauss, Director Customer Journey, Marabu Airlines

“We are delighted to be working with Marabu on this exciting project. Our approach with all airline partners is to deliver a tailored solution that covers all of their IFE needs across hardware, software, and content. With Marabu it was no different but we did have a short timeline to work within. With great teamwork displayed between both parties, we managed to deliver a full Wireless IFE solution within a 6 week window. We are now very much looking forward to building on this successful launch with future enhancements that will support Marabu’s progressive approach and engage and delight their passengers for years to come.” Barry Flynn, COO, Inflight Dublin

About Marabu:

Marabu Airlines OÜ was founded in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2022 as a leisure airline for the European market. The Estonian state-owned airline Nordica acts as operating partner. Condor is Marabu’s exclusive sales partner as general sales agent. In summer 2023, Marabu serves Hamburg and Munich airports and offers travellers a wide selection of attractive destinations in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Portugal, and Spain. Like its sister airline Condor, Marabu is part of the Attestor Group.

For more information, please visit: https://www.flymarabu.com

 

About Inflight Dublin:

Inflight Dublin is a leading provider of inflight entertainment solutions, offering customisable content, digital advertising, and software services to airlines worldwide. The company has been delivering innovative solutions for over 30 years and has a reputation for excellence in the inflight entertainment industry.

For more information visit www.inflightdublin.com

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SriLankan Airlines extends contract with Inflight Dublin for another 3 Years

May 24

Inflight Dublin, a leading provider of inflight entertainment solutions, is pleased to announce the extension of its partnership with SriLankan Airlines for another three years. The decision was made after a comprehensive review of Inflight Dublin’s performance and the quality of its services.

SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, has been a valued partner of Inflight Dublin for several years. The airline has always been committed to delivering the best possible inflight experience to their passengers, and Inflight Dublin’s innovative inflight entertainment solutions have been a key component of this commitment.

“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with SriLankan Airlines,” said Barry Flynn, COO of Inflight Dublin. “We are proud of the exceptional service we have provided to SriLankan Airlines, and we look forward to continuing to work together to deliver a world-class inflight entertainment experience to its passengers.”

“[Inflight Dublin's] inflight entertainment solutions have consistently met and exceeded our passengers' expectations, and we are confident that this partnership will continue to deliver outstanding results.”

Maria Sathasivam, Manager Product Development of SriLankan Airlines

Inflight Dublin has been instrumental in delivering the latest and greatest inflight entertainment content to SriLankan Airlines’ passengers, offering a wide range of movies, TV shows, and music. The company’s innovative and customisable solutions have allowed SriLankan Airlines to offer a truly personalised inflight entertainment experience to its passengers.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Inflight Dublin,” said  Maria Sathasivam, Manager Product Development of SriLankan Airlines. “Their inflight entertainment solutions have consistently met and exceeded our passengers’ expectations, and we are confident that this partnership will continue to deliver outstanding results.”

The extended partnership will ensure that SriLankan Airlines’ passengers continue to enjoy a superior inflight entertainment experience that will help make their travels more enjoyable.

About SriLankan Airlines:

SriLankan Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Sri Lanka, operating flights to over 110 destinations in 58 countries around the world. The airline has a strong reputation for providing excellent service and is committed to delivering a seamless travel experience to its passengers.

For more information visit www.srilankan.com

 

About Inflight Dublin:

Inflight Dublin is a leading provider of inflight entertainment solutions, offering customisable content, digital advertising, and software services to airlines worldwide. The company has been delivering innovative solutions for over 30 years and has a reputation for excellence in the inflight entertainment industry.

For more information visit www.inflightdublin.com

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Inflight Dublin adds FlightPath3D to its suite of Partner apps to Deliver Enhanced Moving Map to Growing Wireless IFE Marketplace

November 15

Inflight Dublin adds FlightPath3D interactive moving map to its suite of Partner apps to Inflight Dublin’s award-winning Everhub wireless platform. Inflight Dublin will offer FlightPath3D’s product as an option to clients.

“We are delighted to be working with FlightPath3D to provide their map as an option for Everhub as well as our existing map. This partnership and integration advances our goal to grow Everhub as a delivery platform to complement our software with best-of-breed partner products, delivering exciting new content and services as part of a one-stop shop to our clients and prospects.”

David Miller, Inflight Dublin’s CTO

“This integration with Inflight Dublin extends the offering from seatback IFE systems to the rapidly growing market for wireless IFE platforms. We look forward to growing our partnership with the ultimate goal of giving digital travellers an immersive, flexible experience. ”

Duncan Jackson, President of FlightPath3D

The integrated product is already being offered to mutual clients of both companies, in particular airlines that have selected Inflight Dublin’s Everhub wireless platform for their fleet. The first confirmed joint client is Sunclass Airlines.

About Inflight Dublin: IFD is a leading global provider of inflight entertainment solutions for both wireless and seat-back systems. Established in 1984, IFD combines CSP expertise with state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions. With full access to early window Hollywood content, a fully-fledged design department, and one of the most comprehensive end-to-end wireless IFE platforms, Everhub™, IFD caters to each airlines’ tailored needs.

About FlightPath3D: The Aviation Industry’s #1 Map Provider. Run your map with the map software experts, building software that’s integrated with ALL the leading IFE vendors. Any Device. Any Platform. Fast Set-Up. Integrated. Personalized. Selected by more than 70 airlines in just 7 years.

FlightPath3D has designed the most compelling and innovative interactive travel solution for both passengers and airlines. With augmented views and relevant flight information, the inflight journey is captivating. A smart, immersive travel guide and route map enables passengers to explore in-destination experiences and inspires them to discover places to visit and research flights. Through their actions, searches, and map interactions, passengers provide airlines and airports with the knowledge of what interests them most about a location and what future destinations excite them for loyalty and strategic planning.

Betria Interactive LLC (dba FlightPath3D) has the industry’s largest specialized map team providing customized map software, application development, and maintenance. For additional information, please visit http://www.FlightPath3D.com or contact crew@flightpath3d.com.

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Sitting Down With: Rika Argadireja, Metadata Team Lead

August 03

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

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What You Watching?: Current Trends in Film

February 28

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 MadnessThor: 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:

“Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Bong Joohn-ho, Director of Parasite

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 BatmanDoctor 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.

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ASKY partners with Inflight Dublin as its content and wireless IFE provider

October 07

ASKY, The Pan African airline, partners with Inflight Dublin for the provision of wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) and content services on its fleet of Boeing 737s New Generation aircraft.

Commencing this last quarter of 2021, the three-year partnership sees Inflight Dublin providing its wireless IFE solution, Everhub™, across ASKY airlines’ B737 fleet. Inflight Dublin’s market-leading Everhub™ software platform will excite passengers through a range of engaging features. The content catalogue consists of Hollywood movies, popular TV Shows, local African programmes and documentaries, music and games.

ASKY airlines will also be utilizing Inflight Dublin’s bespoke data analytics platform, IFD Insights™, where they will gain access to intuitive performance reports that will support the optimisation and expansion of their IFE service moving forward.

“Introducing such an innovative inflight entertainment system on board our aircraft is something we are very excited about. Everhub provides ASKY airlines the opportunity to enrich our passengers’ experience and engage with them in a more tailored and personal manner. ASKY is introducing this service as part of its efforts to continuously enhance the services it provides to its passengers”- Mesfin Tasew, Asky Airlines’ CEO

“Everhub provides ASKY airlines the opportunity to enrich our passengers’ experience and engage with them in a more tailored and personal manner.”
“It gives us great pleasure to be chosen by ASKY Airlines to provide our Wireless IFE solution, Everhub, across its fleet of B737 aircraft. Our extensive expertise in the African region enables Inflight Dublin to provide the best level of service to ASKY airlines. The demand for Wireless IFE is as prominent as ever and with our pool of fantastic airline partners continuing to grow it is a testament to the strength of our product offering.” - Barry Flynn, Inflight Dublin’s CCO

About ASKY:

ASKY, The Pan-African Airline, is a 100% privately owned airline created by regional banking institutions in Africa that includes The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), The West African Development Bank (BOAD) and ECOBANK Group (ETI) in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

ASKY is a commercial company under private law and is managed by experienced African aviation professionals, with Ethiopian airlines as its strategic partner.

ASKY currently operates a fleet of ten aircraft: five (5) Boeing 737-800s and five (5) Boeing 737-700s, serving twenty-five (25) cities in twenty-two (22) countries within Africa.

ASKY’s focus is to develop a strong intra-Africa network that foster regional development, tourism, economic growth and regional integration as a major economic catalyst within the continent with its long-term goal of a sustainable business focused on profitability.

For more information, contact communication@flyasky.com, visit our website www.flyasky.com or our LinkedIn; Twitter Facebook and Instagram pages, @ASKY Airlines

 

About Inflight Dublin:

Inflight Dublin is a leading global provider of inflight entertainment (IFE) solutions with a 37-year history of supplying airlines with the latest Hollywood and international content, as well as wireless, digital, and design services. Everhub is Inflight Dublin’s touch-free, end-to-end wireless IFE solution consisting of Hardware, Software, Content and Ancillary Services to deliver a “one-stop-shop” for airlines to provide an engaging experience for their passengers, while also generating considerable revenues for the airline. With over 50 clients, including the flag carriers of 15 countries, Inflight Dublin’s content supply business is the market leader in Africa and Scandinavia, while also being dominant across Europe.

For more information, contact jane.boland@inflightdublin.com, visit our website www.inflightdublin.com or our LinkedIn and Twitter, @InflightDublin.

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Inflight Dublin chosen by Neos as its IFE Content service provider

September 08

Inflight Dublin has been awarded the contract for the provision of Inflight Entertainment (IFE) content services by Italian airline, Neos.

Commencing in November 2021, Inflight Dublin will be providing a broad range of content across Neos’ fleet of B737 NG, MAX and B787 aircraft. The content catalogue features the latest Hollywood blockbusters, Classic movies and International content.

“Neos consistently works to deliver the finest services to our passengers and this new partnership with Inflight Dublin to provide a new and exciting inflight entertainment offering will be a great enhancement on board. The Inflight Dublin team have already been extremely proactive whilst demostrating fantastic support and we look forward to broadening our partnership in the future.”

– Aldo Sarnataro, Neos’ Commercial Director

“Inflight Dublin’s extensive experience around Europe and dedicated teams are key factors that enable us to provide a unique and personalized experience to Neos and its passengers.”

– Barry Flynn, Inflight Dublin’s CCO

“We are delighted to be working with Neos to provide an exciting catalogue of content to its passengers in the coming months. Inflight Dublin’s extensive experience around Europe and dedicated teams are key factors that enable us to provide a unique and personalized experience to Neos and its passengers.”

Barry Flynn, Inflight Dublin’s CCO

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Inflight Dublin Favourites: Summer Movies

July 15

The hazy July days are upon us, so what better time to pick our favourite summer movies?

Check out Jane’s, Conor’s and Rika’s choices below – and make sure to let us know yours on LinkedIn and/or Twitter. 🙂

Jane Boland – Marketing Executive

The film that screams “summer” to me has to be Mamma Mia! The Movie.

Shot on the sunny Greek island of Skopelos, the backdrop of glistening ocean, steep cliffs and cobblestoned streets would convince anyone who’s watching to book a holiday to Greece ASAP.

 

 

The film is an adaptation of the theatre show of the same name which is written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, and of course features all the greatest ABBA hits.

The incredible soundtrack paired with the stellar cast is a match made in heaven that makes you overlook Pierce Brosnan’s questionable singing.

Meryl Streep is radiant from start to finish and I love her relationship with Amanda Seyfried, which shows the deep bond between mother and daughter and the fear of letting each other go.

“Meryl Streep is radiant from start to finish...”

However, supporting actresses Christine Baranski and Julie Walters steal the show for me with their quick wit and brilliant banter throughout.

The ending is as satisfying as a movie like this should be, with every little issue or dilemma resolved and tied up in a pretty bow.

To sum it up: a bubbly romantic comedy that will have you dancing in your seat while also making you want to leave your life behind and run a hotel on a deserted Greek island.

Conor Regan – Snr. Content Acquisitions Executive

Summer movies are usually light on their feet, upbeat and a bit nostalgic.

Families go on poorly planned road trips, while teenagers have wistful romances. Beer, beaches and barbeques.

It’s cheery, easygoing, undramatic stuff.

Independence Day is not cheery, easygoing, undramatic stuff.

So how does it qualify for this post?

Well, can you think of a better way to spend an August evening than in the company of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, as they nuke the alien mothership?

I sure can’t.

Because Independence Day is the definition of “summer blockbuster”: big, bold, and a whole lot of fun.

“Independence Day is the definition of 'summer blockbuster.'”

Now, to be fair, the movie isn’t perfect. It has its share of implausible moments.

Like, how did Jeff transfer the virus to the mothership from his mid-90s Mac? Was there Wi-Fi onboard? Did he use Bluetooth? A USB?

And how did Will knock out that massive alien with just one suckerpunch? Maybe he had already started training for “Ali”. Who knows.

 

 

But there’s a lot to like here. So much in fact, that I’m happy to overlook the occasional, logic-defying plot hole. For instance:

  • The cast is excellent, and has real chemistry (special mention to Judd Hirsch – I love his performance).
  • The practical effects have held up very well.
  • The action scenes, especially the dogfights, are tense and exciting.
  • Bill Pullman’s iconic “today is our Independence Day” speech.
  • The aliens are mysterious and scary.
  • It’s surprisingly funny for a disaster film.
  • The whole goddamn thing is just magnificently enjoyable.

So there you have it. Independence Day: perhaps an unlikely candidate for a favourite summer movie, but what can I say? It goes down easy.

Not unlike the alien ships, once their shields are down.

Rika Argadireja – Metadata Team Lead

My favourite summer movie would be the teen comedy What a Girl Wants.

Loosely based on The Reluctant Debutante, a 1955 play by William Douglas Home, it tells the story of Daphne Reynolds (Amanda Bynes), a 17-year-old New Yorker who embarks on a trip to England to find her long-lost father (Colin Firth).

In contrast to her free-spirited musician mother Libby (Kelly Preston), her father, Henry Dashwood, turns out to be a wealthy Lord and a prominent politician hoping to eventually become the prime minister.

He met her mother in Morocco, and they got married in a Bedouin wedding ceremony. When Henry brings her home to meet his family, Alistair, Henry’s aide, plots to drive them apart.

 

 

He tricks her to conceal her pregnancy from Henry and tells Henry that Libby is leaving because she was in love with someone else, leading Henry to be unaware of Daphne’s existence.

To make matters worse, Henry is currently engaged to Alistair’s daughter, the snobby Glynnis, who has an equally snobby teenage daughter, Clarissa.

They feel threatened by Daphne’s presence, since they think that a love child would negatively influence Henry’s political aspirations.

Undaunted, Daphne dives into a schedule of social events, determined to prove that love and proper etiquette can conquer all.

But as hard as she tries to reunite her parents and make a bid for “Debutante of the Year,” Daphne cannot conceal her irrepressible personality or hide what a girl wants.

Coming-of-age has always been my favourite genre, and in my opinion, this movie provides a good example of what growing up feels like – the struggles, emotions, and the desire to find ourselves.

“'What a Girl Wants' provides a good example of what growing up feels like.”

Furthermore, the sentimental story is well-supported by the superb cast, Colin Firth’s charming acting and the lively chemistry between Firth and Bynes. Sweet and funny, this heart-warming movie never fails to put a smile on my face!

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Inflight Dublin selected by Sunclass Airlines as its Content and Wireless IFE provider

June 16

Inflight Dublin has been awarded the contract for the provision of content and wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) services by Sunclass Airlines.

Commencing in August 2021, the agreement sees Inflight Dublin providing its wireless IFE solution, Everhub™, on board Sunclass Airlines’ A321 aircraft, while also providing content services across their A330 fleet. The content catalogue consists of Hollywood movies, TV Shows, Boxsets, Music, and Publications. Also included is Inflight Dublin’s revenue-generating gaming platform, Gladi8tor Gaming, through LXM.

Sunclass Airlines is a Danish charter airline that operates a fleet of 10 A330 and A321 aircraft to over 30 destinations across Scandinavia, Europe, South America, and Asia.

“Broadening our partnership with Inflight Dublin is a reflection of our commitment to further engage with our passengers and to create exciting new revenue streams. The quick turnaround time and the utilization of one supplier for both our content and wireless IFE requirements will ensure an efficient and flexible setup, rollout and future expansion of this innovative service. As we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis, we are delighted to have Inflight Dublin’s continued support and to avail of their Wireless IFE solution, Everhub™. It will be an exciting addition to our inflight service for our loyal passengers.” – Christina Pedersen, Sunclass Airlines’ Customer Experience Manager

“The quick turnaround time and the utilization of one supplier for both our content and wireless IFE requirements will ensure an efficient and flexible setup, rollout and future expansion of this innovative service. ”

– Christina Pedersen, Sunclass Airlines’ Customer Experience Manager

“Sunclass Airlines’ decision to continue our partnership for content services while also introducing Everhub™ on their narrow body aircraft gives us great pride and further validates that Everhub™ is the leading Wireless IFE solution in the market. With the endless possibilities our scalable solution offers, Sunclass Airlines and Inflight Dublin will be building on the initial rollout with a range of engaging features to delight passengers and generate additional revenues in the near future.” – Barry Flynn, Inflight Dublin’s CCO


For more information about Everhub™, click here.

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