Last year, Meta caught everyone’s attention by joining forces with Lufthansa, the renowned German airline, to introduce Quest 3 headsets to their passengers. Encouraged by the success of this trial, Meta is now keen on bringing this innovative in-flight XR (Extended Reality) entertainment experience to a broader selection of airlines in the near future.
The introduction of their eagerly awaited Travel Mode in the previous year marked a significant milestone for Meta. This feature, compatible with Quest 2 and newer, is designed to counter the motion challenges VR users face when traveling by land, air, or sea, thereby offering a seamless virtual experience even while on the move.
Building upon the Travel Mode’s foundation, Meta launched a pilot initiative last June. In collaboration with Lufthansa’s Allegris Business Class Suite, they made Quest 3 headsets available on select flights. Flyers could indulge in virtual entertainment such as watching movies and TV shows on simulated screens, enjoying spatial and 360-degree videos, practicing guided meditation, or even playing classic games like Connect Four and chess.
The glowing feedback from nearly 4,000 passengers who experienced Quest 3 during their flights has fueled Meta’s ambition to extend this service to additional airlines. “This initiative is a pivotal step forward in developing our Travel Mode and immersive services,” noted Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs. “We’re now focused on expanding this offering to more airlines and optimizing our product suite.”
While Meta hasn’t disclosed which airlines they are targeting next, it’s likely that access to such premium XR experiences will initially be an amenity for Business and First Class passengers, given the associated luxury perks like lay-flat seats, noise-cancelling headphones, and gourmet meals.
It’s not the first time airlines have dabbled in XR headset offerings. Back in 2015, Qantas was a trailblazer, providing its first-class passengers with Samsung Gear VR headsets as a novel entertainment option. Other airlines such as Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines also experimented with VR headset programs, although these initiatives were eventually phased out.
Meta’s venture could very well redefine in-flight entertainment, setting a new standard for airborne leisure activities. The idea of immersing oneself in a digital world thousands of feet in the air undoubtedly adds a futuristic flair to air travel.
