UK/IRELAND. Inflight services company Retail inMotion has partnered with In-flight Entertainment (IFE) specialist Bluebox Aviation Systems to offer a touch-free retail proposition for airlines.
Bluebox’s wireless IFE software can provide services, including onboard retail and IFE content in the aircraft cabin, through passengers’ own devices.
Retail inMotion said that airlines will benefit from a “deeply integrated, end-to-end solution in establishing new and innovative sales channels in the post-COVID-19 world”.
“Airlines today face an increasingly challenging and evolving environment in meeting the levels of service passengers have come to expect over the last number of years,” said Retail inMotion Head of Product Management John Vaughan. “By combining the expertise of Retail inMotion and Bluebox, we can help airlines address these challenges both now and in the future while increasing ancillary revenues.”
“Airlines wish to get back to delivering inflight experiences that delight passengers without compromising the safety protocols that are being implemented to protect both passengers and cabin crew,” said Bluebox Director of Business Development David Brown.
“In partnership with Retail inMotion we’re offering a touch-less shopping experience for food, beverages and other goods on our battery or aircraft-powered wireless IFE platform, Bluebox Wow. Virtualising the trolley and facilitating touch-less payments, we’re enabling passengers and crew to maintain as much social distance as possible, while keeping open an important revenue stream for the airline.”
Brown added: “Bluebox Wow already supports the hygienic provision of seatback information such as inflight magazines and safety cards. However, the current environment expedited the need to deliver a touch-less payment option that integrated smoothly with the inventory management systems onboard. Working with Retail inMotion, we’re now able to bring that virtual trolley experience to market.”
