More airlines across the globe are seeking out partnerships with big entertainment production companies. It’s a way of enhancing the onboard entertainment offering while differentiating from competitors adding a unique selling point to passengers. The latest airline to strike a deal of this sort is JAL, Japan Airlines, which has now integrated in its in-flight entertainment Disney+ content.
In this post:
- JAL Includes Disney+ Content in Its In-Flight Entertainment
- Why Are Airlines Seeking Deal of This Type?
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JAL Includes Disney+ Content in Its In-Flight Entertainment
We’ve seen the likes of Air Canada team up with Apple TV+ or Cathay Pacific team up with Disney+ however, in Japan there was yet to be a partnership of this sort. The first airline to sign an agreement with an entertainment production company in the country is JAL, Japan Airlines.
Just as Cathay Pacific a few months ago, JAL will be teaming up with Disney+. That means that many of the most popular shows produced by Disney’s online streaming service will now be available for passengers to enjoy while flying Japan Airlines.
On domestic flights the new vaster catalog has been active already since July 1st 2024. On international service on the other hand, it just launched on August 1st 2024. Now it is available across the JAL fleet whether the aircraft has IFE screens fitted or not. In fact, if the aircraft doesn’t have IFE screens fitted you can still access the entertainment content library via the in-flight Wi-Fi on your personal electronic device.
Why Are Airlines Seeking Deal of This Type?
The offering on flights has standardised quite a bit. What I mean is that airlines look much more alike one and other now than they used to 20 or 30 years ago. In general, there are two aspect airlines compete on to win over passenger:
- Price
- Services
Price is self-explanatory. Services though is where carriers can massively differentiate their offering and attract passengers for something unique only, they offer. Emirates, for instance, offers an in-flight SPA with a shower; Etihad offers the so-called Residence and so on.
Carriers as Japan Airlines make themselves unique with a Japanese oriented catering offering and from now on a unique in-flight IFE catalog featuring the best shows and movies produced by Disney+.
Simply put, it’s a way of attracting passengers with a unique service that can touch the right chords with a specific part of the potential clientele.