The gist of it: United Airlines is the third largest airline and it was significant news that the company was looking to upgrade planes with Panasonic’s OLED in-flight entertainment system. Anyone who has ever flown United can attest to how significant it is that there is anything new in any of their planes.
It’s probably a good indication of the building momentum of the OLED display market for air travel. All this despite the fact that a 4K OLED is probably not going to get the content or the ambient lighting it deserves on any plane. It’s an interesting contradiction or an indication of how bullish airlines are about ticket prices for the next decade.
The only downside is that it is a very closed market, and not one driven by market data, and networks. It’s got cyclical, political, economic, and technical barriers all in the mid; airlines are nationalized and private, and there are really only a handful of commercial OEMs for planes, and the private plane market is very fragmented, regional, and with no middle ground.
Panasonic Unveils 4K OLED HDR Display in New Astrova Inflight Entertainment System
The Panasonic Astrova 4K OLED HDR displays are lighter and thinner then previous iterations of the in-flight entertainment system’s design, seven millimeters thin and with a 6.5-millimeter bezel.
The display is 4K OLED HDR and that might seen indulgent considering the limited availability of 4K content onboard most airlines, but these displays are going to be in service for a long time and they are meant to be future-proof. And, the light conditions in many airline cabins may never really allow the displays to truly shine but when the shades come down and the lights are off, no doubt it will be noticeable.
AERQ Introduces Flexible OLED Screens for Advanced Inflight Experiences
Back in November, 2022, AERQ, a joint venture (JV) between LG and Lufthansa Technik, is set about trying to change the inflight experience by incorporating flexible ultra-high-definition OLED screens into aircraft cabins. The JV was looking at embedded screens, traditionally used for entertainment and flight information distribution, as well as digital signage and cabin ambience.
The AERQ solution was built around an open platform, AERENA, which was designed to allow for the quick and easy deployment of airline and third-party applications, content, and UI changes to the screens. But one of the first applications that was tested was a welcome board, a 55″ UHD OLED screen integrated into front row separators. It provided flight information, seating maps, weather updates, destination information, and advertising. The concept was put into action in a Boeing EnCore Interiors galley design for testing and evaluation.
The AERQ’s UHD OLEDs were actually considered as an innovative cabin divider, displaying content on one side while remaining transparent on the other, or displaying different content on each side, as well as lightweight, flexible OLED screens becoming virtual windows or sky ceilings.
Jet Aviation Debuts Lightest Cabin Interior with OLED Screens
Around the same time, Jet Aviation showcased three 55-inch curved OLED screens, each integrated above the window line and following the curvature of the cabin ceilings. This design approach not only minimized the need for additional cabinetry to house the screens, but also lightened the load of the cabin interior and maximized available floor space.
Jet Aviation carried out a series of qualification analyses and tests in partnership with an electronics firm to ensure the screens met all aviation standards. The standards in airplane cabins are stringent, as you would expect, and sometimes onerous to the point of being blockers for innovation. They include requirements related to temperature, vibration, weight, sound, electromagnetism, flammability, and stress.
Jet Aviation was installing these panels in private aircraft, and didn’t expect them to appear on commercial flights due to the screens’ location above the windows, where passengers typically store carry-on bags. But Jet Aviation also had an eye on the industry moving closer to the potential replacement of windows with screens that display real-time external views along with pertinent flight information.
Aircraft Interiors Is a Tough Call
Other than major suppliers, with direct relationships to the likes of Samsung and LG, the aircraft industry requires a great deal of domain expertise to nail down the specifics of the suppliers. In some ways, it is akin to the broadcast industry with a layer of system integrators (SIs) who cover the cabin and the cockpit, and a network of component, parts, and system suppliers. You’re not getting into this market with just the panel.
Nevertheless, it is. a fascinating industry and it actually aligns with automotive, in some ways. The form factors may differ, and some of the environmental tolerances, too, but public and private transport could all use variations of same screen ideas. All in all, it looks like the integration of OLED displays into the supply chain has gained enough momentum that we should expect to see more OLED displays on our air travels. At least in the high-paying seats.
| Examples of SIs | What They Do |
|---|---|
| Lufthansa Technik | Lufthansa Technik offers the “nice” HD system, providing 4K screens in various sizes for aircraft cabins. Their integrated ‘nice’ app allows streaming on personal electronic devices. |
| Thales | Thales develops and manufactures electrical systems, devices, and equipment for the aerospace sector. They offer seatback IFE systems, wireless streaming to PEDs, and in-flight connectivity services. |
| Panasonic | Panasonic provides connectivity bundles to airlines, including text and browsing options, as well as high-speed streaming. They also offer interactive media content and services. |
| Pariani SRL | Pariani SRL offers custom displays ranging from 3.5″ up to 21.5″ with PCAP and CPU options. They also provide a wide range of monitors for in-seat or cabin wall mounted units, available as smart 4K monitors or standard monitors with VGA and HDMI input ports. |
| Northern Avionics | Northern Avionics offers the UGO 360, a wireless IFE system combined with connectivity for a personalized inflight experience. It includes a passenger portal with options for online payments, inflight eCommerce, and service personalization to enhance satisfaction and uptake rates. |
| Display Interactive | Display Interactive provides products and services such as ancillary revenue optimization systems, certification services, connectivity/communications, CRM systems, e-commerce, and hardware. |
