In-Flight entertainment keeps the passengers happy and distracted, and it’s a great timepass for the passengers especially who are traveling for more than 5 or 6 hours. Some airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic, once allowed passengers to chat seat-to-seat through the in-flight entertainment system, but the feature was eventually removed after a few disruptive incidents. But this is no more the case, as most of the planes have no seatback screens available anymore.

Well, yes you heard it right airplanes have been contracting their seats for quite a while, expecting to diminish the planes' weight and crush in more travellers. Be that as it may, recently, a few airlines have been going above and beyond in updating their seats; They're taking the seatback screens away. 

No More In-Flight Entertainment? But Why?

Cost Cutting Being the Major Reason:

According to the airlines, these screens are costly to install, typically averaging around $10,000 per seat, which amounts to a substantial expense. Additionally, they require regular updates and incur high maintenance costs. Some airlines have started considering removing these screens to save on costs.

Overweight Of the Seats:

Airlines contend that these screens contribute to the overall weight of the seats. In order to reduce the aircraft's weight and make more room for passengers, some carriers have chosen to remove these screens.

Customers Now Bring Their Own Devices:

According to the airlines, a significant number of their customers now bring their own devices for entertainment. With the prevalence of smartphones, which offer a wide range of content, passengers prefer to listen to their playlists or watch TV series of their choice, rendering in-flight entertainment less essential. As a result, airlines have made the decision to remove seat screens.

Whenever we are travelling for a short duration, we always make a choice of our seat at the time of collecting the boarding pass, because we always look for a comfort zone. So, same is the case for passengers who are travelling in long flights that they always look for a seat with screens to watch movies, TV shows or to listen music.

Another reason passengers may hesitate to use their smartphones, despite airlines assuming everyone carries one, is the fear of draining their phone's battery before reaching their destination. Not all flights, especially domestic ones, offer phone charging options, further discouraging personal device usage for entertainment. Without screens for entertainment, passengers may end up simply gazing at fellow travelers, which might not align with the airlines' intentions.

Environmental Considerations:

As airlines strive to become more environmentally responsible and sustainable, reducing the weight and complexity of in-flight entertainment systems becomes a priority. The aviation industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its impact on the environment. Thus, eliminating seatback screens is one way to align with these sustainability goals. It directly reduces the weight of the aircraft, which, as discussed earlier, has a positive effect on fuel efficiency and emissions. This aligns with broader industry efforts to make air travel more eco-friendly and reduce the environmental impact of aviation.

Reduced Technical Failures:

Seatback screens are electronic devices that can experience technical issues and failures. When a screen malfunctions, it can lead to passenger dissatisfaction and discomfort. By removing these screens, airlines can reduce the frequency of technical problems that might otherwise disrupt the passenger experience. This also translates into fewer in-flight entertainment-related complaints and maintenance calls.

Simplified In-Flight Service:

For cabin crew, dealing with seatback screens and the associated systems can add complexity to their duties. By eliminating these screens, cabin crew can simplify their in-flight service routines, making it easier to attend to passengers' needs, particularly during meal services and safety demonstrations. This streamlining of service can lead to more efficient operations and improved passenger service.

Seamless Internet Connectivity:

As airlines invest in improved in-flight Wi-Fi services, passengers can connect to the internet and stream content even without seatback screens. This can lead to greater passenger satisfaction, as they have access to their favorite online services, social media, and communication tools during the flight. Airlines can market their Wi-Fi connectivity as a premium service, generating additional revenue.

According to TechSci Research Report “Aircraft Seating Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028, Segmented By Aircraft Type (Narrow-Body Aircraft, Wide-body Aircraft, Regional Aircraft, Business Aircraft), By Class (Economy, Premium Economy Class, Business Class, First Class), By Seat Type (Pilot /Co-pilot Seats, Cabin Crew Seats, Passenger Seats), By Gravity (9G & 16G), By End Use (OEM, Replacement) and By Region”, global aircraft seating market stood at USD1,877.27 million in 2022 and it is expected to register a CAGR of 7.25%, in value terms, over the next five years, on the back of growing passenger air travel, need for lightweight and durable seats, and the increasing rate of replacement of existing aircraft fleets across the world. Furthermore, the market is projected to be valued at USD2,821.85 million in 2028.

Businessman’s Need for In-Flight Entertainment: A Different Context

Business travelers have expressed that they often struggle to find space on their tray tables when using their laptops, tablets, or cell phones for work. Juggling work-related tasks with entertainment on the same device can be challenging. This is where having a separate screen comes in handy. With a dedicated screen, they can effectively work on their tasks while simultaneously enjoying movies or music. Not having these screens on flights is a significant drawback for them. Aerospace leader Safran has introduced new technology that enables passengers to stream content from their personal electronic devices to the seatback screens.

In-flight entertainment can also help business travelers prepare for upcoming meetings or presentations. They can review slides, documents, or notes related to their work, ensuring that they are mentally ready to engage with clients or colleagues immediately upon arrival. Being well-prepared can boost their confidence and performance during important business interactions. Seatback screens do help in the same by proving a continuous means of productivity and entertainment on the go. In-flight entertainment systems that offer a wide variety of content, high-quality screens, and noise-canceling headphones provide a premium experience, making the journey more pleasant. This can positively influence a traveler's perception of the airline and impact their loyalty.

However, the use of in-flight entertainment can sometimes lead to noise disturbances. Passengers watching movies or playing games with sound can create a noisy environment, which can be challenging for business travelers who are trying to focus on work or prefer a quiet atmosphere for rest. In addition, in-flight entertainment systems often involve shared screens or monitors that are visible to nearby passengers. This can be a concern for business travelers who need to review sensitive or confidential documents during the flight. Having prying eyes on the work being done can be uncomfortable and potentially pose security risks.

Airlines Are Getting Rid of Seatback Entertainment: Why It’s a Good News

• Outdated In-Flight Entertainment Systems

Airlines’ inflight entertainment systems are heavily expensive to install, with their costs be high as upto $10000 USD for one. When airlines stick one of them, they’re leaving them there for a long time. With the level of technological advancements improving, these fixed screens are sure to become outdated. Hence, for owners who have a choice to either use these screens or their own devices, the latter one has a higher retention and usability.

• The Necessary Legroom

For airlines to keep a suitable legroom for utmost comfort, they often have to cut down in-flight entertainment. These seatback screens require tons of cabling, power, and weight to accommodate the technology in a confined seating space. Airlines install these in-flight screen systems in boxes, located under the seats which makes it inconvenient for patients to have to settle for less space, thus abrupting long travel comfortability.

• Encouraging Airlines to Improve Their Wi-Fi

Though the elimination of in-flight entertainment systems is being considered a cheap trick to save money by airlines, it has a silver lining. Sometimes, that means that screen elimination gives room for better Wi-Fi accessibility. According to sources, America has incorporated high speed Wi-Fi to more than 700 of its domestic aircrafts, to avoid internet and surfing speed lags. The replacement has been for satellite internet that can efficiently maintain speeds, even if all the people inside the aircraft are using it.

Content Licensing and Updates: An Aspect Only A Few Know

Content licensing and updates are significant ongoing expenses associated with in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, including seatback screens. Airlines invest in licensing agreements to provide passengers with a selection of movies, TV shows, music, and other content. These agreements often involve negotiations with content providers, which can be time-consuming and costly. In addition, licensing content for IFE systems can be expensive, as content providers often charge fees for the rights to showcase their material. These costs can vary depending on the popularity of the content, the length of the licensing agreement, and the routes the content will be available on.

Along with all this, content library and its management is also a necessary scenario. Content library updates are necessary to keep in-flight entertainment systems appealing to passengers. To maintain passenger satisfaction and meet evolving preferences, airlines must regularly refresh their content selection. This involves acquiring new movies, TV episodes, music albums, and other forms of entertainment. Airlines need dedicated teams to curate and source new content, negotiate with content providers, and manage the logistics of content distribution to the aircraft. The frequency of updates varies, but many airlines aim to refresh their libraries every few months to ensure that passengers always have access to a variety of options, including recent releases.

List of Companies that Decided to Keep Their In-Flight Systems

Though there is/has been a trend to ditch these in-flight entertainment systems, there are companies that haven’t followed the bandwagon. Companies like:

• JetBlue
• Delta
• Southwest
• American Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Hawaiian
• Virgin Atlantic

haven’t affected their in-flight entertainment options, which also includes free movies, Wi-Fi availability, in-seat USB access, and seatback screens. Based on NerdWallet analysis, JetBlue, Delta, and Southwest are considered the best airlines for in-flight entertainment.

For instance, a good example of latest implementation is the JetBlue’s partnership with Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service. In Spring 2023, the company partnered with the streaming service to allow flyers to be able to stream Peacock’s entire library on devices and their in-flight screen systems, while being connected to in-flight Wi-Fi.

Another example is the Delta in-flight entertainment. Delta passengers get access to a huge catalogue of movies and TV shows from Delta Studio, while on board. Seatback screens come already pre-installed on their select aircrafts, giving customers access to up to 300 movies, on demand TV shows, and near about 15 channels of live satellite TV.

In the latest developments, United Airlines has unveiled its new United Elevated interior for the Boeing 787-9, featuring luxurious upgrades like the United Polaris Studio suites, which provide 25% more space, complete with privacy doors and 27-inch 4K OLED screens.

According to TechSci Research Report “India Touchscreen Display Market - By Application (Smartphone, TV & Monitors, Tablets, Laptops & Notebooks, Digital Signage, Others), By Technology (Resistive, Capacitive, Infrared, SAW, Others), By Type (LCD, LED, OLED, Others), By End User (Consumer Electronics, Retail, Healthcare, BFSI, Others), By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026”, India touchscreen display market was valued USD 1966.76 Million in FY2020 and is anticipated to grow at double-digit CAGR of over 11% in the next five years. Growing demand for consumer electronics such as smartphone, television, and laptops, among others and increasing penetration of internet are expected to fuel to adoption of touchscreen display. Moreover, government of the country is focusing on the adoption of 5G technology and has signed MOU with Israel which will positively influence the demand of touchscreen display. Researchers at IIT Madras have developed an innovative touchscreen technology "iTad" that allows users to physically feel the texture of images, offering a completely new level of interaction.

Also, the demand for touchscreen displays in commercial applications, such as kiosks and interactive displays, is also on the rise. South India, particularly Bengaluru and Hyderabad, is a hub for technology and innovation, driving the development and adoption of touchscreen technologies.

What Does Future Have in for Seatback Screens: Summing Up

The future of in-flight screens, particularly seatback screens, is subject to several factors, including evolving passenger preferences, technological advancements, and airline strategies. For example, although there has been a decline in the usage of seatback screens by the airlines, the graph does not show consistency. Instead, hybrid models with personalization aim to cater to both passenger preferences. While some people prefer the convenience of a dedicated screen, others could emphasize streaming options for those who chose to stream on their own devices. Air India is partnering with Bluebox, a leading provider of streaming in-flight entertainment (IFE) solutions and the same company behind Vistara’s “Vistara World” app since 2018. Bluebox WOW establishes a dedicated wireless network and is installed in two to six locations throughout the aircraft, depending on its type, to ensure optimal coverage across the cabin.

Whatever be the scenario, seatback screens are not going to completely go away because of immersive functionalities the screen often provides. Seatback screens can be used as a platform for branding and delivering unique passenger messages. While the factor of environment sustainability and weight remains a consideration and factor for such widespread eradication of these screens, the screens and technologies are being innovated every day. With time, these seatback screens may utilize energy-efficient and lighter materials.

In conclusion, the future of in-flight screens is likely to be shaped by a blend of passenger preferences, technological advancements, and airline strategies. While personal devices are increasingly prevalent and convenient, seatback screens will persist for passengers who value a dedicated and customizable entertainment experience. The key to success will be in providing a versatile and seamless in-flight entertainment ecosystem that allows passengers to choose the experience that suits their preferences and needs while meeting the demands of an ever-changing aviation landscape.