Inflight Dublin studies IFC integrations for real-time transactionsRunway Girl

Inflight Dublin, a premier airline content service provider which also offers its own Everhub-branded wireless IFE hardware and software, has been engaged in discussions with inflight connectivity providers about system integrations that would support real-time credit card transactions via Everhub.

The Everhub hardware can be battery or aircraft powered, and according to Inflight Dublin chief technology officer David Miller: “There is a possibility that if there is connectivity onboard we can interface with that.”

He revealed to Runway Girl Network that: “We have had conversations with a number of connectivity providers about combining our Everhub product with connectivity when it’s available — whether it’s full connectivity or something like a LEO [Low Earth Orbit satcom].”

Elsewhere in the portable- and aircraft-powered wireless IFE space, AirFi and Bluebox Aviation Systems are using Iridium’s LEO satellite network-supported Certus 100 service to bring real-time payments onboard in a cost effective way for airlines.

Inflight Dublin, meanwhile, has already laid some important groundwork for future IFC integrations. During the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, it announced a strategic collaboration with fintech-as-a-service (FaaS) provider Soft Space to integrate the Kuala Lumpur-based firm’s Fasspos point-of-sale (POS) system with Everhub to support onboard e-commerce transactions in an offline environment.

“We’re combining their payment product with our Everhub product so now you can do in-seat ordering,” said Miller. That includes everything from movies and games to onboard retail and food and beverages.

AirAsia’s long-haul brand, AirAsia X, is the launch client for this integration, with 20 aircraft earmarked for the solution initially, he said, and depending on the results, AirAsia could fit the rest of its fleet as well.