Air India intorduces new entertainment system. Photo: Air India Air India has unveiled a glimpse of Vista Digital Platform, a new entertainment and services platform that will be installed in the company's in-flight entertainment systems.
The platform was developed by Air India's design and software teams, and is expected to begin rolling out gradually from the second half of 2027, initially on new aircraft delivered to the company and later on the existing fleet.
Unlike traditional in-flight entertainment systems that operate as separate systems, the new platform is designed to connect to Air India's broader digital ecosystem, including the airline's app, website and other services. Air India says the integration will allow it to add new content and services more quickly.
One of the key innovations will be a unified interface across different aircraft types, so that passengers can have a similar user experience even when flying on different aircraft in the fleet. The system will also support remote software and content updates.
The platform will also enable continuity between flights. For example, a passenger will be able to continue watching a movie or program from the same point they left off on a previous flight.
In addition, the company plans to allow access to loyalty services, trip information, and some booking options directly from the seat screen.
The recommendation system will use artificial intelligence to offer travelers content and services based on their preferences, including movies and shows, food options, games, children's content, reading materials, and tourism products.
Another innovation under development is a capability known as "commerce-on-map," based on a map that will allow passengers to discover services and experiences related to the destination they are flying to, and even make reservations for certain services during the flight.
The platform is also expected to be integrated into the Air India app, which will serve as a complementary interface to the entertainment system. The company plans to allow passengers to browse content and save preferences before boarding the plane, and later also interact with the entertainment system during the flight.
Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Air India: “The adoption of open-source operating systems by in-flight entertainment hardware vendors, the deployment of satellite broadband connectivity on aircraft and modern AI technologies create a unique ‘app store launch moment’ for reimagining the airline cabin experience.
We are one of the few pioneering airlines of the world to create a connected software platform in-house that powers personalized entertainment and commerce experiences for guests.
With this advancement, the inflight entertainment system has the potential to become the most important screen our guests interact with, joining Air India's award-winning mobile app and website as one of our core digital consumer platforms. While deployment will commence progressively from the second half of 2027, we are excited to share an early preview of the platform."