Summary
- IFE screens on planes differ from home TVs due to safety regulations, specialized software, and longer product development timelines.
- Three main IFE players are Panasonic Avionics (63%), Thales (26%), and Safran (8%).
- Japan Airlines, ANA, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Oman Air are among the airlines flying the largest IFE screens.
Airlines compete to offer passengers the best in-flight entertainment and large catalogs of films and series to help the onboard hours fly by. But which airlines offer the largest screens to enjoy all those hours of prime programming?
Photo: Delta Air Lines
The answer is changing as manufacturers work around the technical limitations of this specialized equipment and airlines adopt new technology. Simple Flying has gathered the latest information on the largest screen sizes in the air and what passengers might expect coming up soon.
How are IFE screens on planes different from your television at home?
Airlines want their in-flight entertainment (IFE) to keep up with the needs of modern travelers and offer them an experience similar to what they enjoy at home. However, there is a challenge: the screens embedded in airplane seatbacks and the systems that manage airlines’ large catalogs of content significantly differ from home television systems.
Photo: United Airlines
In-flight hardware undergoes more rigorous safety tests to meet regulatory standards, ensuring that screens won’t cause injury to passengers in the event of an accident. Software must accommodate specially formatted films and programming as required by the studios that license content to airlines so they can offer feature films onboard that are still only being shown in theaters.
Per Valour Consultancy, 23% of the global airline fleet has an IFE system installed, though there is a great difference between single-aisle and twin-aisle installations. 89% of twin-aisle planes feature seatback IFE.
The software helps ensure the best resolution on the screens available and accommodates individual airlines’ requests for multi-language support, dubbing, and closed captioning. Many screens have touch controls for navigation and custom menus offering content and onboard services. Ensuring all these features work well extends the product development timeline compared to home entertainment systems by years.
Still, the companies that make IFE systems are eager to shorten the time to market and introduce new technology.
The three main players in IFE
Because this is a very specialized product requiring a unique combination of digital and aviation technical know-how, it is no surprise that only a few dominant players compete to bring the best screening experience to the skies.
Photo: Panasonic Avionics
As recorded by London-based Valour Consultancy, which tracks in-flight entertainment and connectivity developments closely, three manufacturers accounted for 97% of all seatback in-flight entertainment systems in 2023. One supplier holds the lion’s share of the market.
- Panasonic Avionics (63%)
- Thales (26%)
- Safran (8%)
Panasonic Avionics has introduced a new Astrova IFE system with a 4K OLED screen, which can be configured with larger screens ranging from 19″ to 42″.
The top 5 airlines flying the largest IFE screens
- Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are tied for the lead by offering the industry’s largest 43″ screen in first class on select aircraft.
- Emirates’ first class passengers can enjoy programming on a 32″ screen on their planes.
- Qatar Airways’ first class passengers experience entertainment on a 26″ screen.
- Singapore Airlines offers a 24″ screen for first class passengers to enjoy its content catalog.
- Oman Airways offers its first class passengers a 23.5″ display for in-flight entertainment.
Photo: Japan Airlines
As one can tell, IFE screen size differs by aircraft type, airline and cabin. Here are the screens in all classes for these airlines:
IFE SCREEN SIZE |
FIRST CLASS |
BUSINESS CLASS |
PREMIUM ECONOMY |
ECONOMY |
---|---|---|---|---|
JAPAN AIRLINES (A350-1000) |
43″ |
24″ |
16″ |
13.3″ |
ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS (ANA) (212-SEAT B777-300ER) |
43″ |
24″ |
10.6″ |
10.6″ |
EMIRATES |
32″ |
23″ |
13.3″ |
13.3″ |
QATAR AIRWAYS (A380-800) |
26″ |
17″ |
N/A |
10.6″ |
SINGAPORE AIRLINES (A380 Suites have 32″ IFE Screens) |
24″ |
18″ |
13.3″ |
11″ |
OMAN AIR |
23″ |
17″ |
N/A |
10.6″ |
Which airlines are upgrading their IFE systems?
United Airlines announced plans to install the new Panasonic Avionics Astrova OLED 4K screen IFE system on select new Boeing 787 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft starting next year. The first class will feature 13″ monitors, while economy class will get 10″ monitors. Mark Muren, Managing Director for Identity, Product, and Loyalty at United Airlines, said as follows:
“Our customers tell us that they want to be engaged, entertained, and productive in the air.”
Photo: Panasonic
SWISS has recently announced its new ‘SWISS Senses’ cabins will be introduced next year on the airline’s Airbus A350-900 planes. The first class cabin will feature a 43″ screen in the middle suite, designed for couples, and a 27″ screen in the window suites. Business class travelers will watch entertainment on a 17″ screen, while premium economy passengers get a 15.6″ monitor. Economy passengers will see 13.3″ screens on their seats.
Photo: SWISS
Is there an IFE screen larger than 43″?
Not yet, but maybe soon. During the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024, Panasonic Avionics and seat manufacturer Collins Aerospace introduced a new business class suite concept called MAYA, intended to appeal to digital-native travelers. If the concept takes off, it will offer a 45″ curved screen for true cinematic immersion. It’s a very attractive prospect, but it will be up to airlines to decide whether it flies.
Related
New MAYA Cabin Suite Concept Would Offer A 45″ Curved Screen On Planes
The business class seat, designed for the next generation of travelers, was unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) on May 28.
Even larger screens for VIP planes
Private jet owners can enjoy larger screens as the certification requirements for business jets are somewhat more accommodating. Rosen has set the world record for in-flight displays by developing a 97″ (8-foot-diagonal) OLED screen. Rosen’s senior VP of strategy, Lee Clark, told Aircraft Interiors International Magazine as follows:
“We are taking one giant 8-foot step towards closing the gap between what’s available at home and what we can put on an aircraft.”
Photo: Rosen Aviation
The company offers a full lineup of large OLED displays: 22″, 42″, 48″, 55″, 65″, 77″, and 97″. While they’ve made their mark in the VIP market, Rosen is also monitoring the tight market in commercial aviation, putting its monitors on display at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
What’s the best IFE overall?
Emirates has been recognized for having the best overall IFE system. The airline’s ICE IFE system has earned Skytrax, Airline Ratings, and APEX accolades. Emirates offers a remarkable 2,186 channels of on-demand entertainment, 1,230 channels of music, live TV, and free WI-FI. Their system also features an enhanced multilingual interface in 14 different languages.
Photo: Emirates
Still, some window-seat lovers will always believe the view at +30,000 ft offers the best possible in-flight entertainment. This arrangement offers a unique benefit: it’s always original content.
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