British Airways teams up with SkyLights to offer in-flight VR entertainment for first-class users

Virtual Reality (VR) hasn’t made much progress across industries other than gaming. To bring a change in this scenario, British Airways is jumping onto a VR bandwagon, which will be quite useful for passengers.

In a UK first move, British Airways customers will be able to enjoy 3D cinema in the skies as the airlines begins trials. BA first-class customers travelling on select BA117 flights from London Heathrow to New York JFK will be able to use VR headsets until the end of this year.

VR headsets from SkyLights

French-American startup and Virtual Reality eyewear specialist, SkyLights and British Airways have joined hands to offer inflight VR entertainment. The SkyLight VR headsets called AlloSky VR headsets will facilitate the same.

This announcement comes after BA’s trials of SkyLights VR headsets at Heathrow Terminal 5 earlier this year. Customers could get a glimpse of their Club World cabins with the headset.

An IAG accelerator alumnus

Founded in 2015 by David Dicko, Laurence Fornari, Rateb Zaouk, and Abhijit Limaye, SkyLights is an IAG accelerator alumnus and took part in the Hangar 51 artificial programme. It offers startups in the travel and aviation industry an opportunity to work with mentors and experts across IAG and help them develop and test their ideas to secure investment. IAG (International Airlines Group) is the parent company of British Airways, Aer Lingus, LEVEL, Avios and a few others.

A wide variety of content

A selection of award-winnng travel programmes, documentaries, and films in 2D, 3D, and 360-degree format will be available. Customers can access 3D content even as they lie flat. British Airways works with experts to choose a range of therapeutic programmes including sound therapy and guided meditation designed for those who have a fear of flying.

Sajida Ismail, Head of Inflight Product at British Airways, said: “We are always looking at the latest technology to enhance our customers’ experience on the ground and in the air. Virtual reality has the power to revolutionise in-flight entertainment and we’re really excited to trial these new glasses as they should create a unique and memorable journey for our First customers”.

British Airways celebrates centenary year

British Airways is celebrating the centenary year in 2019. The airline has launched BA 2119: Flight of the Future, which is a first-of-its-kind exhibition at Saatchi Gallery all through August. The exhibition is conducted in collaboration with the Royal College of Art. It will showcase Fly, which is a virtual reality experience tracing humankind’s relationship to flying. Users can also experience Concorde, which is the brand new A350 and the flight of the future.

Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more updates in the tech startup world.

Also read,

https://siliconcanals.com/news/eit-digital-conference-companies/