Today, SriLankan Airlines, in partnership with immersive entertainment specialist SkyLights, unveils a new Virtual Reality (VR) cinema at its Business Class lounge.
Installed in the Serendib lounge at Bandaranaike International Airport, SkyLights’ Allosky and Skykids cinematic VR headsets offer passengers the unique opportunity to relax and enjoy the latest films and TV series in 2D, 3D and 360° on individual immersive headsets. In offering this innovate new service, the leading national carrier looks to transform passenger-waiting times and set its customer journey apart. If deemed successful, SriLankan Airlines may also look to introduce the service onboard its long-haul flights.
SkyLights is an American-French company pioneering VR as passenger entertainment in-flight and in the lounge. Recognising its expertise in the field, SriLankan Airlines selected SkyLights’ Allosky and Skykids solutions to create a dedicated private cinema area as a new type of guest experience including children entertained during their stay at the lounge.
SriLankan Airlines, Chief Executive Officer Vipula Gunatilleka said, “We are pleased to partner SkyLights in our endeavour to provide a memorable travel experience to our valued customers. Introducing this immersive cinema experience for the enjoyment of our premium passengers is a truly progressive step given that we are one of the first Airlines in the Asian region to adopt the service. We continue to embrace new technology and trends in all our service aspects whereby to provide a unique passenger journey amidst the comforts of contemporary air travel complemented with the traditional Sri Lankan warmth and hospitality.”
Movies in 3D for the business lounge passenger. Image: SkyLights
With the sleek and comfortable Allosky headsets and Bluetooth headphones, guests at the Serendib lounge will enjoy films such as critically acclaimed Crazy Rich Asians, and in 3D Spielberg’s Ready Player One in Full HD. Furthermore, passengers that wear reading glasses are not excluded from enjoying the service thanks to focus adjustments on the device.
Skykids makes VR content available for all ages. Image: SkyLights
For younger travellers, films such as Ferdinand (3D), Harry Potter and The Lego Batman Movie (3D) will be available on Skykids headsets, which have a fun design, are extremely easy to use and allow reading glasses to be worn inside of the headset.
“The lounge is an important part in the premium customer journey and to date there has been little in the way of passenger entertainment in this space. With SriLankan Airlines we secure our first deployment in the Asia-Pacific region. Together we are working to set a new standard in customer experience before passengers even step foot on the plane.”, said David Dicko, SkyLights CEO.
Launched in 1979, the airline’s hub is located at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo providing convenient connections to its global network (including codeshare partners) of 111 destinations in 48 countries around the world. Its direct route map covers major cities across the Europe, Australia, Middle East, India, South East Asia and the Far East. The Airline operates an all Airbus fleet including a state-of-the-art A330-300 and modern A320/321neo fleet.
The Airlines’ latest awards include, the World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean, Asia’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean and Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign at World Travel Awards 2018.
SkyLights is an American-French company that leverages cinematic VR as premium passenger entertainment. It has a signature immersive-IFE solution that transports passengers to their own, private, in-flight movie theater, where they can enjoy 2D and 3D blockbusters and forward-facing 360° content on a wide-angle cinema screen. Working with airline customer experience managers, the end-to-end solution (content, hardware, software & operations-setup) is tailored to upgrade and differentiate the business class experience. The company has offices in San Francisco, Paris and Toulouse. Its key partnerships include Stelia (Airbus subsidiary), Fox, and Bemersive.
