From today, passengers taking certain low-cost, long-haul flights with Malaysian carrier AirAsia X are now able to pre-book and hire new portable AirAsia X Xcite Inflight Entertainment Huawei Mediapads for RM49 ($11) to enjoy inflight entertainment and shopping.

 

These new 10.1-inch full HD display devices are being made available to passengers on flight code D7 services [which exclude flights to and from Auckland, Jeddah and Kathmandu-Ed]. They also replace the Samsung Galaxy Tablets that the airline was formerly using. Those customers already paying for Premium Flatbed seats will be offered the tablet for free.

 

The new tablets will come fully loaded with the AirAsia BIG Duty Free catalogue, as well as films, TV shows, games and music. Benyamin Ismail, AirAsia X Berhad CEO said: “We are continuously looking for ways to give our guests an enhanced travelling experience with AirAsia X.

 

POTENTIAL FOR INTERACTIVE DUTY FREE CATALOGUE

“The all-new Xcite Inflight Entertainment, which offers a wider range of content and an improved viewing device for a seamless viewing experience, will definitely give our guests value for their money.

 

“The content will also be regularly updated to ensure our guests are getting the best quality entertainment when they travel with us.”

 

The development is in line with AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes’ master plan to make 2017 the starting point for the emergence of the AirAsia Group as a digital airline company with an increasing range of services, which include BIG Duty Free, BIG Pay, BIG Loyalty, Touristly, Rokki onboard Wifi and the Xcite inflight entertainment system.

 

As such, the bottom line is to increase the airline’s current ancillary income from RM46 ($10.34) to RM60 ($13.48) per passenger, with onboard shopping an integral part of this.