Tag: movies

Dublin, Ireland – 29th October 2024: Inflight Dublin, a leading provider of in-flight entertainment (IFE) and wireless streaming solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the contract to supply its innovative Everhub™ wireless IFE solution across Copa Airlines’ Boeing 737 fleet. This significant partnership marks a major milestone in enhancing the passenger experience on Copa Airlines, one of Latin America’s most prestigious carriers.

Inflight Dublin was selected after a considerable testing process and market analysis by Copa Airlines, which is testament to Everhub’s™ capabilities. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology, Everhub™ allows the airline to build an ecosystem of services that passengers can access directly through their personal devices. This ensures a personalized and convenient experience, tailored to the needs and preferences of each passenger.

Copa Airlines will also be deploying the aircraft powered configuration of Everhub, which includes integration with a number of discrete signals from the aircraft to enable more automation and minimise crew interaction (for example automatic playback pause for passenger announcements, fasten seat belt messages and establishing connectivity when on the ground).

Speaking about the new partnership, Philip McCarthy, Commercial Director of Inflight Dublin, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Copa Airlines and bring our Everhub™ solution to its 737 fleet. This partnership underlines our commitment to delivering cutting-edge in-flight entertainment solutions that enhance the passenger experience. We look forward to working closely with Copa Airlines to provide their passengers with an unparalleled inflight experience.”

Copa Airlines, headquartered in Panama City, Panama, operates one of the most modern fleets in the region and is renowned for its excellent service and punctuality. By implementing the Everhub™ wireless IFE solution, Copa Airlines aims to further elevate its in-flight offering, providing passengers with high-quality entertainment options and a more enjoyable travel experience.

Diana Mizrachi, Senior Director Customer Experience of Copa Airlines, commented, “At Copa Airlines, we are dedicated to improving the travel experience for our passengers. Partnering with Inflight Dublin to introduce the Everhub™ wireless IFE solution is a testament to our commitment to excellence. We are excited to offer our passengers this enhanced entertainment option, ensuring a more enjoyable and memorable journey.”

The rollout of the Everhub™ wireless IFE solution on Copa Airlines’ Boeing 737 fleet commenced in July 24 with an ambitious schedule to install across a further 60 aircraft by the end of 2025. Inflight Dublin will provide comprehensive support and training throughout the installation to ensure optimal performance of the new system.

About Inflight Dublin

Inflight Dublin is a leading provider of in-flight entertainment solutions and wireless services to the aviation industry. With over 40 years of experience, Inflight Dublin offers a wide range of innovative products and services designed to enhance the passenger experience and drive airline revenue.

About Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, is a leading airline in passengers and cargo in Latin America. In its 76 years of operation, it has established the Hub of the Americas® in Panama City as the continent’s premier connections center. With a very modern fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, Copa Airlines serves countries in North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean. The airline consistently achieves top on-time performance results in the continent and among the best in the world. Copa Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, the world’s most relevant airline network, and offers the ConnectMiles frequent traveller program, allowing accumulation and redemption of miles across more than 25 airlines worldwide. To plan your trip, purchase tickets and manage reservations, use Web Check-in, and find information on travel policies and requirements, please visit www.copa.com.

In an exclusive interview, Honey Gugale, Implementation Manager, shares insights into the intricate process of integrating content into in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems. From content curation to quality assurance and final deployment, Honey discusses the steps taken to ensure passengers have access to a seamless and immersive entertainment experience during their flights.

1. Content Integration Process

Q: Honey, can you describe the process of integrating content into the in-flight entertainment system? What steps are involved from receiving content to making it available on flights?

Honey Gugale: The integration process is quite comprehensive and involves multiple teams working in close coordination. It all starts with our Content Team, which receives and curates content from studios and clients. The Video Team then takes over, encoding the content to ensure it meets the specific technical requirements of our IFE systems. Next, our Metadata Team provides the necessary images and descriptions, which play a crucial role in enhancing the user experience.

Following this, the Development Team steps in to deliver the required software tailored to the client’s specifications. The Design Team also plays a significant role by creating client-specific designs that align with the airline’s branding. Finally, my team, the Implementation Team, integrates all these components to ensure everything functions smoothly. Once everything is in place, the Logistics Team ships the SSDs or servers containing the completed content to the client, ready for deployment on flights.

Q: How do you ensure that the content formats—video, audio, and text—are compatible with the in-flight systems?

Honey Gugale: Ensuring compatibility is critical, and we take this very seriously. Every piece of content undergoes rigorous rack testing, which simulates the actual in-flight entertainment system environment. This allows us to catch and resolve any potential issues before the content is deployed, ensuring that it performs flawlessly in the air.

2. Quality Control and Testing

Q: What measures are in place to ensure that all content is of the highest quality before it is deployed on flights?

Honey Gugale: We have a robust quality control framework in place, which involves several key measures:

• Rigorous Quality Control: Every piece of content—whether video, audio, or text—undergoes comprehensive quality checks. This includes encoding verification, format validation, and a thorough content review to ensure it meets our high standards.
• Rack Testing: Content is subjected to rack testing, where we test it in an environment that closely mirrors the actual in-flight entertainment system. This is crucial for ensuring compatibility and optimal performance under real-world conditions.
• Metadata Verification: We carefully verify all metadata, including images and descriptions, to ensure accuracy and alignment with the content, which enhances the overall user experience.
• Collaboration Across Teams: Our teams—content, video, metadata, and design—work closely together to ensure that all aspects of the content are aligned, consistent, and of the highest quality.
• Client-Specific Customization: We also customize designs and software to meet the specific needs and branding of each airline, ensuring that the content not only meets quality standards but also reflects the airline’s unique identity.

Q: How do you test the content to ensure it functions correctly across different devices and in various environments?

Honey Gugale: We take a comprehensive approach to testing to ensure content performs well across all devices and environments:

• Cross-Device Compatibility Testing: We test the content on a variety of devices, including tablets, smartphones, and different IFE systems, to ensure consistent performance across all platforms.
• Environmental Simulation: We create testing environments that simulate the various conditions the content might encounter, such as different network speeds, screen sizes, and operating systems. This helps us identify and address any potential issues that could affect playback or user experience.
• Rack Testing: As I mentioned earlier, rack testing is a key part of our process. It allows us to evaluate content on systems that closely replicate the actual hardware and software configurations used in-flight.
• Stress and Load Testing: We also conduct stress tests to evaluate how content performs under heavy usage or in scenarios with multiple simultaneous users. This ensures the content remains stable and functional, even under high demand.
• User Experience Testing: Finally, we conduct real-world testing with actual users in different environments. This helps us gather feedback on functionality and performance, allowing us to make any necessary adjustments before final deployment.

3. Content Updates and Refreshes

Q: How frequently is the content updated on the in-flight systems, and what drives the need for these updates?

Honey Gugale: The frequency of content updates varies depending on the airline, but it’s typically done on a monthly or quarterly basis. Several factors drive these updates:

• New Content Releases: We update the systems regularly to add new movies, TV shows, music, and other entertainment options, keeping the in-flight experience fresh and engaging for passengers.
• Content Licensing Agreements: The expiration or renewal of licensing agreements often necessitates updates, either to remove expired content or to introduce newly licensed material.
• Passenger Feedback and Preferences: We analyze passenger feedback and usage data to identify popular content and introduce new selections that align with passenger preferences and demographics.
• Technological Advancements: Updates may be required to ensure compatibility with new devices, formats, or in-flight system upgrades, such as improvements in screen resolution, audio quality, or interactive features.
• Seasonal and Thematic Changes: We also update content based on seasonal events, holidays, or specific themes to ensure that entertainment options are relevant and timely.
• System Enhancements: Finally, updates are necessary when new software features or system enhancements are rolled out, requiring content to be re-encoded or adjusted to meet new technical specifications.

Q: Can you explain the process of rolling out new content across an airline’s fleet? How do you coordinate these updates with the airline’s schedules?

Honey Gugale: Rolling out new content across an airline’s fleet is a complex process that requires careful coordination. Here’s how we do it:

• Content Preparation and Encoding: Once new content is selected, it undergoes encoding and formatting to meet the technical specifications of the airline’s IFE systems. This includes video, audio, and metadata preparation.
• Quality Assurance and Testing: Before deployment, the content is subjected to rigorous quality assurance testing, including compatibility checks and rack testing in simulated environments, to ensure it will function properly across all in-flight systems.
• Logistical Coordination: The content is then loaded onto SSDs, hard drives, or servers, which are prepared for distribution. Our Logistics Team coordinates with the airline to schedule the physical delivery of these drives to various locations, ensuring alignment with aircraft availability and maintenance schedules.
• Monitoring and Support: Following the rollout, we closely monitor content and system performance, addressing any issues promptly and providing ongoing support to ensure a smooth experience for passengers.

As the demand for more immersive and diverse in-flight entertainment grows, Honey Gugale and the implementation team continue to innovate, ensuring that passengers enjoy a seamless, high-quality entertainment experience that meets the evolving needs of the airline industry.

Next up in the ‘Sitting Down With’ series is Inflight Dublin’s CTO, David Miller. He discusses the standout features of Everhub, Wireless trends such as advertising and integrations, and where he sees growth in the industry. Enjoy!

What steps does Inflight Dublin take to ensure they are up to date with the latest technology trends in the industry?

We closely monitor trends and developments in the industry, and conduct research to identify areas where we could innovate and develop our existing offering. A key source is client feedback and requests made for additional features. So, for example, we have seen a demand for hybrid systems where airlines want to mix both portable and aircraft-powered servers across their fleet. We have also seen a growth in the combination of wireless IFE with onboard connectivity. However, our deployment with Qatar Airways for the Everhub Preloaded iPad solution shows us there is still demand for native application support.

What are the standout hardware and software features of the Everhub solution that make it so versatile?

When we developed our own Everhub server we were able to learn from our experiences with other systems – what worked well and what didn’t. This allowed us to deliver a low-maintenance experience to our airline clients when it comes to implementation and operational management. For example, features like the swappable batteries without any downtime in-flight, and the touch screen interface makes life that bit easier and more efficient.

On the software side, we have focussed on rolling out a single product architecture and feature set which can be reused across all clients and on all supported platforms (including portable and fixed wireless systems). So, as we add new capabilities, we can make these available to everyone. Over the last two years, we have been building out Everhub as a platform for partner integrations, including Games, Advertising, Destination Services, and Payments. All these integrations have been modularized, allowing clients to “pick and mix” as required.

Think of Everhub as a shop, and we can have a variety of content and services available in the shop window.

How do you see the demand for Wireless IFE developing in the coming years? Do you think more airlines will adopt it alongside seatback?

Absolutely, based on the enquiries we are getting now we can see a trend growing for wireless IFE adoption. This has been driven by several factors including the increased rollout of narrow-bodied aircraft for long-haul routes, as well as the desire to offer more ancillary services to airlines using the wireless IFE product as a platform. In addition, COVID-19 has driven the growth in demand from a cost reduction, flexibility and hygiene perspective.

As mentioned above, we can see growing interest in the “extended platform” – where we not only provide IFE, but a means to deliver a range of services from ourselves and our partners.

What are some key areas that Inflight Dublin differentiates from its competitors in the wireless space?

Where Inflight Dublin stands out is the ability to deliver a one-stop-shop to clients. We offer exciting content, our own fully-certified hardware, and flexible software for multiple platforms and partner integrations, all delivered with our own implementation and design services from a highly skilled and experienced in-house team.

Our Everhub trial system has been very successful in growing demand and demonstrating the proven value the system brings to airlines’ inflight service. We can have a new client up and running in a matter of weeks.

Key to our offering is holding to a vision for an integrated baseline product that can be grown as required. Not only for the wireless streaming capability but also for the back-office analytics which all clients have access to as part of the offering. In addition, given our CSP heritage, there are several new initiatives we can drive to support the end-to-end life cycle for our clients.

Want to learn more about Everhub™? Get in touch mail@inflightdublin.com

2019 seems a long time ago, right? Back then, it was smooth sailing for the movie industry:

• Audience numbers were up.
• Records were getting smashed at the box office.
• And fresh content was being greenlit left, right and centre.

Then a certain virus came on the scene and caused all sorts of trouble. Cinemas shut, productions stopped, and delays ensued. The world of movies – from creation to release to consumption – was turned upside-down.

Fast forward to today, some two-ish years later: where are we? Has the industry recovered, or is it stuck in the doldrums? Have any new trends emerged? What’s changed, and what’s stayed the same?

Let’s take a look.

The Return of the Blockbuster

2019 was a big one for blockbusters. Here are the top ten performers at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo:

What a time it was: nine titles broke the billion-dollar barrier, and the top two, Avengers: Endgame and The Lion King, are currently the 2nd and 8th highest-grossing films of all time.

As Variety reported here, the global box office return was a monstrous $42.5 billion – a new record that, I suspect, will last for some time.

Compare this to 2020.

The best-performing Hollywood title, Bad Boys For Life, brought in $42.5 million – less than a sixth of what the previous year’s number one (Avengers: Endgame) accrued. Tenet‘s return amounted to $36.3 million: Chris Nolan’s lowest since 2006’s The Prestige.

Overall, as per Deadline, the global gross dropped 71% to $12.4 billion from its 2019 heights. Ouch.

And 2021? The data certainly makes for interesting reading:

The year’s story was, of course, Spider-Man: No Way Home. The 6th highest-grossing movie ever (this could still improve: it’s still in the cinemas!), it outperformed its predecessor, Spider-man: Far From Home, by nearly $700K – despite the restrictions around the world. Excellent work, Spidey.

No Time to Die did very well too. The oft-delayed conclusion to Daniel Craig’s Bond stint was met with near-universal praise, and brought in the second-highest gross for an English language title.

Overall, it says something when the 9th best performing title of 2021 (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) brings in more than 2020’s number one. That “something” being:

• The movie industry is gradually recovering.
• Audiences are hungry for movies.
• The pull of the Hollywood blockbuster remains strong.

Marvel’s Enduring Popularity

According to the 2021 data, four of the year’s top 10 performers were part of the Marvel canon:

• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Venom: Let There be Carnage
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and
• Eternals.

And then there’s the aforementioned Black Widow, which just missed out. Combined, the total gross for all five amounted to a princely sum of around $3.5 billion.

Evidently, fourteen years after Iron Man, the MCU still has immense pulling-power worldwide.

And, looking at the upcoming Marvel movies in 2022, this isn’t going to change anytime soon: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are all on the way, with more in the pipeline for 2023 and 2024.

Movie Genres

A lot has changed over the last two years, but then again, some things have stayed the same: like our love of explosions, guns and car chases

Action is, by some distance, the most popular genre globally.

Nine out of ten of 2021’s best performers were action-orientated, and the likes of Dune, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and The Matrix: Resurrections all made the top 30.

It’s a similar story in 2022. Chinese blockbuster Water Gate Bridge leads the way, with a hefty gross of $480 million. Bucking the trend of video game movies underachieving at the box office, Unchartered has a gross of $140 million (so far), while The 355 sits comfortably in the top ten too.

Onto animation. 2019 was an incredible year for the genre: seven made the overall top 20, and two (The Lion King and Frozen II) accrued the 2nd and 3rd top grosses of the year.

2020 was challenging, but things are getting better. Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto and Sing 2 did well in 2021, and with Lightyear, Sonic 2, Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse, Minions: The Rise of Kru, and Pinocchio on the horizon, 2022 could – whisper it – see a return to 2019 levels.

And what of the music biopic? So hot a few years back I even wrote a post about it (click here if you’re interested).

It does seem that demand has cooled lately. The Aretha Franklin movie, Respect, did decent business, but overall 2020 and 2021 were barren years for the subgenre. The heady days of Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody seem a while ago now.

However, there’s some in the pipeline for 2022: Austin Butler’s Elvis looks promising, and word is there’s an Ozzy Osboure movie on the way too. So you never know. Like Queen at Live Aid, a comeback could be on the cards.

Last but not least – horror.

With the likes of A Quiet Place, Midsommar, Get Out! and Hereditary, it’s been a vintage few years for the genre, both with the movie-going public and the critics.

The trend continued in 2021: A Quiet Place: Part 2 was the 14th highest-grossing movie of that year, and Halloween Kills exceeded expectations, bringing in $132 million.

However, most impressive (and perhaps surprising) of all is the confusingly-titled Scream: the 5th instalment in the self-referential slasher series, it’s the second best performing Hollywood film of 2022 so far.

The Rise of the Non-English Movie

When Parasite won the Best Foreign Language Golden Globe in 2020, director Bong Joon-ho memorably said this:

So, two years on, did we, as an audience, get over the barrier? Was Parasite the watershed cultural moment that many thought it would be?

Well, sort of.

On the one hand, there’s little argument that Hollywood titles still dominate the global box office. For instance, in 2021, just three of the top ten weren’t in English.

Still, it’s an upswing when you consider that, in 2018 and 2019, every title was an English-language one.

Also, as mentioned, the Mandarin movie Water Gate Bridge currently sits atop this year’s box office rankings, while behind it in 2nd is another from China – Too Cool to Kill.

The signs for independent features are encouraging too.

Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers and Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari outperformed a number of big-budget Hollywood titles, while Das perfekte Geheimnis was the second highest-grosser in Germany, surpassing F9: The Fast Saga and Dune.

All positive signs, for sure. We mightn’t have clambered over the one-inch barrier just yet, but we’re getting there.

Final Thoughts

So, strange and exciting times in the movie world.

Some things have changed, like the increased popularity of non-English titles, while others have stayed the same: the dominance of the action genre and the demand for Marvel titles, for instance.

Also, although numbers aren’t what they were in 2018 and 2019, it’s still encouraging to see grosses recover significantly in 2021 from the miserable lows of 2020.

And there are more reasons for optimism in 2022.

Scream and Unchartered‘s unexpected box office triumphs are a welcome boost, and there are so many big hitters still to come: The Batman,  Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World: Dominion and Lightyear, to name a few.

Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be interesting!

If you’d like to learn how we source the most on-trend content for our clients – and how we can do the same for your airline – get in touch at mail@inflightdublin.com.

After a successful temporary deployment on their B767 aircraft, Inflight Dublin has been chosen by Condor, a long-standing client of over 10 years, to provide a full rollout of its Wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) solution, Everhub, to cover their entire narrowbody fleet.

From April, Inflight Dublin will expand their wireless IFE solution to cover 35 aircraft including A321, A320 and B757 aircraft. Inflight Dublin’s proven platform is now even more user-friendly as passengers will be able to easily access the web-based app by scanning a QR code on the back of their seat. The content package includes the latest Hollywood movies, TV Box Sets, bespoke Audio Playlists, Life & Culture documentaries and local German content as well as Gladi8tor games.

This latest rollout is part of a broader strategy between Inflight Dublin, Condor, and other key stakeholders to create a seamless passenger experience and expand their retail and revenue generation capabilities.

After a successful year in 2021, we want to share our industry knowledge by interviewing the talented employees who make Inflight Dublin thrive.

Kicking off our first interview of the ‘Sitting Down With’ series with some industry insight and outlook for 2022 is Inflight Dublin’s CEO, John White. 

How did the pandemic continue to affect business throughout 2021? To what extent did you see it recover?

During 2021, Inflight Dublin (IFD) saw increased demand for its products and services as the world started to manage the pandemic better and airline activity increased.

At the beginning of 2021, the continuation of the pandemic dampened expectations in relation to the rate of recovery. However, with the increased rollout of vaccines throughout the world, the industry grew strongly during the northern hemisphere summer and into the latter part of the year. However, with the emergence of the Omicron variant towards the end of year there was a negative impact on demand.

At the year end, despite being in the middle of the Omicron wave, there was increased optimism that 2022 would be the year that we got on top of the Covid crisis and that there will be a strong recovery in business. Having finished 2021 with an increased level of business, we are confident that our business will grow strongly in 2022.

How did Inflight Dublin adapt to the ever-changing environment of the aviation & inflight entertainment industry during the second year of the pandemic?

IFD continued to focus on 3 key areas:

1. Product & service innovation
2. Delivering value to our clients
3. Enhancing our customer service

The pandemic has led airlines to review their businesses and identify new and more efficient ways to operate and deliver services to their customers.

At a very early stage of the pandemic, IFD recognised that there would be a paradigm shift in the industry and that greater levels of innovation, value and customer service would be required. Therefore, we invested in these areas. As well this, we reviewed our own business to ensure that we were optimising the way we operated, as well as ensuring that we were structured in the right way to exploit future growth opportunities.

What were Inflight Dublin’s biggest achievements & developments in 2021?

IFD’s biggest achievements during 2021 were working in partnership with our clients to help them successfully navigate the crisis: I’m delighted to report that none of our clients went out of business and that we didn’t lose any of them.

Moreover, we were delighted to win a number of new airline clients, including Qatar Airways, Ukraine International, Neos and others. We also expanded our partnerships with existing clients with the rollout of IFD’s Everhub Wireless system on Ethiopian Airlines, Sunclass Airlines and Azur Air.

In terms of developments, we invested heavily in our Everhub Wireless IFE solution and delivered a range of benefits, including: lower costs, remote updating of content, payment platform for on board retail, destination services, crew app and enhanced data analytics through our IFD Insights™ tool.

On the Content side of our business, we extended our Content management System (CMS) to further improve our workflow efficiencies and deliver in-depth cycle management and analytics tools to our clients.

Our hard work and success was also recognised through receiving the Top 10 Aviation Solution Provider Award with Aerospace Defense Review.

What is your outlook for 2022? What’s next for Inflight Dublin?

I am very positive about the outlook for 2022. I strongly believe that it will be the year that the world starts to overcome the Covid crisis and that there will be a strong recovery in the airline industry due to the pent-up demand for travel.

At IFD, we are very excited to be moving into a new state-of-the-art facility next month. We have equipped the new space with the very latest technologies and the highest levels of security, and have ensured that there’s enough space to accommodate our significant growth plans.

From a product and service point of view, we will continue to focus on delivering the highest levels of innovation, value and service to our clients. This will include the delivery of a number of new services on our Everhub wireless platform, which will include greater revenue generation opportunities for our clients, lower costs, enhanced flexibility, more in-depth passenger usage data, and increased hardware options. Watch this space!

ASKY, The Pan African airline, partners with Inflight Dublin for the provision of wireless Inflight Entertainment (IFE) and content services on its fleet of Boeing 737s New Generation aircraft.

Commencing this last quarter of 2021, the three-year partnership sees Inflight Dublin providing its wireless IFE solution, Everhub™, across ASKY airlines’ B737 fleet. Inflight Dublin’s market-leading Everhub™ software platform will excite passengers through a range of engaging features. The content catalogue consists of Hollywood movies, popular TV Shows, local African programmes and documentaries, music and games.

ASKY airlines will also be utilizing Inflight Dublin’s bespoke data analytics platform, IFD Insights™, where they will gain access to intuitive performance reports that will support the optimisation and expansion of their IFE service moving forward.

About ASKY:

ASKY, The Pan-African Airline, is a 100% privately owned airline created by regional banking institutions in Africa that includes The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), The West African Development Bank (BOAD) and ECOBANK Group (ETI) in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

ASKY is a commercial company under private law and is managed by experienced African aviation professionals, with Ethiopian airlines as its strategic partner.

ASKY currently operates a fleet of ten aircraft: five (5) Boeing 737-800s and five (5) Boeing 737-700s, serving twenty-five (25) cities in twenty-two (22) countries within Africa.

ASKY’s focus is to develop a strong intra-Africa network that foster regional development, tourism, economic growth and regional integration as a major economic catalyst within the continent with its long-term goal of a sustainable business focused on profitability.

For more information, contact communication@flyasky.com, visit our website www.flyasky.com or our LinkedIn; Twitter Facebook and Instagram pages, @ASKY Airlines

About Inflight Dublin:

Inflight Dublin is a leading global provider of inflight entertainment (IFE) solutions with a 37-year history of supplying airlines with the latest Hollywood and international content, as well as wireless, digital, and design services. Everhub is Inflight Dublin’s touch-free, end-to-end wireless IFE solution consisting of Hardware, Software, Content and Ancillary Services to deliver a “one-stop-shop” for airlines to provide an engaging experience for their passengers, while also generating considerable revenues for the airline. With over 50 clients, including the flag carriers of 15 countries, Inflight Dublin’s content supply business is the market leader in Africa and Scandinavia, while also being dominant across Europe.

For more information, contact jane.boland@inflightdublin.com, visit our website www.inflightdublin.com or our LinkedIn and Twitter, @InflightDublin.

To coincide with Tenet hitting inflight entertainment screens this month, we thought it’d be a nice idea to write a few words about our favourite Christopher Nolan films.

Hope you enjoy, and keep an eye out for more “Inflight Dublin Favourites” – coming your way soon.

Jamie Baker – Audio Services Lead

Prior to the release of Batman Begins in 2005, live-action Batman films had garnered a reputation for being campy, tongue-in-cheek, and often silly representations of the comic book icon and his Gotham City escapades.

The franchise was in dire need of an overhaul, but few people could have expected the dramatic shift in tone once Christopher Nolan took the helm.

Batman Begins is built on foundations of realism and grit. For the first time on the big screen, it tells the origin story of Bruce Wayne, the son of a billionaire who tragically loses his parents to one of the many criminals churned out by the sinister streets of Gotham City.

It takes relatively lesser-known villains from the Batman universe and magnifies them, creating complex characters with interesting motivations and unique relationships with Batman.

But what truly sets Nolan’s film apart from all the Batman films before it is its determination to focus in on Bruce Wayne as a character, adding layers of intrigue to the man behind the mask.

At its core, the film is a character study which follows a broken and brooding man’s search for purpose, fuelled by trauma, rage and an unwavering need for revenge.

While often overshadowed by the incredible narrative and mammoth Heath Ledger performance featured in the sequel, Batman Begins is my favourite Christopher Nolan film because it is the first movie to truly get Batman right.

It set up one of the most memorable and consistently brilliant trilogies in film history, and significantly raised the bar for all superhero movies that followed it.

Rika Argadireja – Metadata Executive

The Christopher Nolan movie I like the most is Interstellar. An epic sci-fi set in a dystopian time in the future when the earth is dying, it follows a group of astronauts who attempt to find a new home for mankind through interstellar travel.

The combination of time relativity adventures, space exploration, exceptional acting (I personally think that Matthew McConaughey’s acting is Oscar-worthy), an unpredictable cameo appearance, and aesthetically pleasing visuals perfectly compliment the story about humanity.

The other thing that I really like about the movie is the ending – I don’t want to say too much but the last five minutes are emotional, tear-jerking, and it made me realise how valuable family and time are.

I can’t recommend it enough, Interstellar is definitely high up on my most favourite movies list!

Conor Regan – Snr. Content Acquisitions Executive

Inception has all the hallmarks we’ve come to expect from a Nolan film: beautiful cinematography; thrilling action; a non-linear narrative; mind-bending visual effects; a pulsating Hans Zimmer score, and ruminations on philosophy and metaphysics.

But for me, one thing in particular gives it an edge over his other work, and that’s how moving it is.

Because if you take away the talk of extractions and projections, what we’re left with is a man, who’s exiled from his family, doing anything it takes to get home. And it’s this simple narrative strand that anchors the movie, and gives it its emotional heft.

Key to the film’s power is Dominick Cobb, Inception‘s brilliant, yet troubled, protagonist.

Like the director’s best characters, he’s a bundle of contradictions, and far from the “good guy” archetype of way too many action flicks. He mightn’t always be likeable, but, as we learn more about his backstory, we come to understand his motivations and empathise with his situation.

The closing scene, in particular, packs a serious emotional gut-punch. Without giving too much away, it’s a rollercoaster of excitement, tension, release, and ambiguity that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.

Inception isn’t just my favourite Nolan, but one of my favourites full stop. An awesome film.

Jane Boland – Marketing Executive

The casting was 10/10 with an outstanding performance from Heath Ledger as the Joker, which for many people carried the entire film. However, Christian Bale brought two great characters to life; the strong crime-fighting Batman and the wealthy yet troubled Bruce Wayne.

Intense action scenes such as the opening bank robbery scene and the car chase/truck flip are iconic still to this day.

I think I need a Batman trilogy movie marathon now!

Tenet will be available for inflight entertainment systems from January 2021. At Inflight Dublin, we pride ourselves on providing the best film, TV, audio and innovative content to our clients – and that includes Christopher Nolan films! If you’d like to learn how we can do the same for your airline, make sure to get in touch; you can contact us here.

All images property of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

Inflight Dublin has been awarded a 3-year contract for the provision of inflight entertainment (IFE) by long-standing client Ethiopian Airlines Group, the national flag carrier of Ethiopia.

Inflight Dublin has been providing IFE services to Ethiopian Airlines since 2010, ranging from content, wireless software, motion graphics and an interactive microsite.

Inflight Dublin will service Ethiopian Airlines’ entire IFE-enabled fleet with content, including 3 B767 aircraft that utilise Inflight Dublin’s Everhub™ wireless software platform. The content package will feature Hollywood blockbusters, classic movies, TV shows, local content and YouTube videos.

Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Africa, operating a fleet of over 128 aircraft for short, medium, and long-haul flights to 127 international destinations. The airline was also voted ‘Best Airline in Africa’ for the 3^rd consecutive year at the Skytrax 2019 World Airlines Awards.

The first of the month is always an important day for us here at Inflight Dublin, as it’s when our clients’ inflight entertainment systems are updated with a selection of brand new content.

It’s the day when all those meticulously researched and lovingly curated films go from being an entry on a computer screen, to something that can be tangibly watched and enjoyed by a passenger. It mightn’t seem like much, but for us, it’s pretty exciting!

So, with a new month just around the corner, we’d thought we’d compile a list of just some of the fantastic films that will be going on-board as part of the September update.

And quite an update it is – we’ve got everything from action blockbusters to underground indie films to Bollywood epics, and much more besides.

Happy watching.

Deadpool 2

With its unique blend of sharp humour, postmodern narrative techniques and visceral action, Deadpool helped revitalise the superhero genre in 2016.

Deadpool 2 doesn’t deviate too much from the formula, but ramps it up, Spinal Tap-style, to eleven, and the result is the rare case of a sequel that’s an improvement on an already great first instalment.

The narrative centres on Ryan Reynold’s masked vigilante and his attempts to protect a young boy, who has supernatural abilities, from a time-traveling antagonist, Cable (played with suitable menace by Josh Brolin).

A critical and box office hit, passengers will love it. As long as they’re over 18. 😉

Tully

Charlize Theron stars as Marlo, a New York suburbanite who’s just given birth to her third son. Approaching breaking point due to the demands of motherhood, her wealthy brother hires Tully, a night-time nanny to help Marlo cope. Fraught at first, the relationship between mother and nanny soon develops into something special.

Tully is about a much overlooked topic in cinema – motherhood. Handling a tricky subject with humour and empathy, director Jason Reitman delivers a fantastic film that, propelled by Theron’s warm, heartfelt performance, is as moving as it is funny. A lovely watch and a perfect airline film.

American Animals

“One of the summer’s freshest, most entertaining films” according to Kenneth Turan of the L.A Times, American Animals is a heist film, but not the sort you’ve seen before.

Starring newcomers Evan Peters, Ann Dowd, Barry Keoghan, and Blake Jenner, the film follows four young Kentuckians and their plans to steal the rarest and most valuable books in their school library.

Subverting the genres’ clichés and hallmarks for something altogether more unique and fresh, passengers will love the film’s taut, slick storytelling and surprisingly philosophical, thought-provoking undercurrent.

On Chesil Beach

Thanks to pitch-perfect performances in Brooklyn and Lady Bird, Saoirse (that’s pronounced “Ser-Sha”) Ronan has quite rightly established herself as one of the leading actors of her generation, and she returns in On Chesil Beach, a film about the societal pressures in 60s England that threaten to derail an idyllic romance between a young couple.

As is to be expected, Ronan, who stars as Florence, is fantastic, delivering a performance that’s layered with humour and pathos, but Billy Howle, who stars opposite, more than holds his own too.

Established icons of British cinema, such as Emily Watson and Emily-Marie Duff, make up the wider support cast of this rich and engaging film.

Ready Player One

Steven Spielberg returns to the directing chair for the 34^th time (yes, you read the correctly – the 34^th time) with Ready Player One, a sci-fi adventure adapted from the multi-award winning novel of the same name.

Set in a stunningly realised virtual reality universe called OASIS, it follows Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) and his attempts to unlock the secrets of the mysterious world and those of its creator, James Halliday.

By blending old school Speilberg-isms with a modern visual style and contemporary cultural touchpoints, the director has created a bold film that is a worthy addition to his otherworldly canon. A must-see for any fans of the director, sci-fi, or just, well, really good movies.

White Fang

Based on the 1906 novel of the same name, White Fang is a timeless adventure about a wolfdog and his coming-of-age that has been loved by generations of children and adults alike.

It has been adapted for the small and big screen before, but never quite like this – animated in a lovely 3D style that is almost like a visual painting, and starring some top-end voice-acting talent (Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones and Paul Giamatti, to name but a few), this is its finest incarnation yet.

Avengers: Infinity War

Our favourite Marvel superheroes return in Avengers: Infinity War, where they must put aside their differences and team up to defeat the all-powerful, universe-destroying Thanos.

With its all-star cast, sharp, snappy script, engrossing narrative and mind melting action sequences, the film far transcends the massive expectation that preceded its release.

A success both with the critics and at the box office, it’s a blockbuster in the truest sense of the word.

Life Of the Party

Who doesn’t love Melissa McCarthy? From her iconic role as Sookie in Gilmore Girls to taking the lead in global superhits like Spy and The Heat, her loveable presence and instinctive, deft comedic touch lights up the screen.

Life of the Party sees her star as Deanna, a suburban housewife who decides to return to college and kick her life into gear following a painful divorce.

Much partying and hilarity ensues as she embraces her new lifestyle, however it’s to the horror of her daughter Maddie, who just so happens to attend the same school. Eek.

Belle et Sébastien 3, le dernier chapitre

The concluding chapter to the much loved French series about a child named Sébastien and his beloved dog Belle, Belle et Sébastien 3, le dernier chapitre is a heartwarming tale of family, love and loyalty.

In this third instalment we are introduced to the menacing Joseph (played by Clovis Cornillac who you may recognise from 2004 classic Un long dimanche de fiançailles) who claims he used to own Belle and will do whatever it takes to reclaim the Pyrenean mountain dog. Sébastien however, has other ideas.

A visually impressive film packed with snow-capped mountains and grand vistas, Belle et Sébastien 3, le dernier chapitre is a classic good-versus-evil tale that will be loved by the younger passengers on-board.

Rampage

Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a The Rock, brings his signature blend of charm, brawn and humour back to our backseat screens in Brad Peyton’s exhilarating Rampage.

Starring as Davis Okoye, Johnson plays a primatologist who has forged a special bond with George, an exceptionally intelligent silverback gorilla. When the latter becomes infected with a dangerous pathogen, he transforms into a city-destroying predator and up to Davis, and geneticist Kate Caldwell (brilliant played by Naomie Harris), to both save humanity, and the animal that was once his friend.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Empire magazine curated a list of the greatest Star Wars characters for their August 2018 issue, and you may be curious to know who came in at numero uno –  well, it was, of course, everyone’s favourite deep space outlaw, Han Solo.

This much-loved character takes centrestage in Solo: A Star Wars Story, a long awaited prequel that explores the history of the loveable rogue, aswell as the wider Star Wars universe.

Portrayed with just the right amount of brazen charm and cheeky arrogance by Aidan Ehrenceich, the film lives up to its high billing with a sharp script, blistering action sequences and a host of great characters, some of whom longtime fans will undoubtedly recognise.

The Monkey King 3

The third film in the massively popular Chinese franchise sees Aaron Kwok, Feng Shaofeng, Xiao Shenyang and Him Law once again join forces to continue their “Journey to the West” – this time entering a kingdom populated exclusively by woman.

A swashbuckling rollercoaster of a film, The Monkey King 3 is a well-told tale in the classic storytelling tradition that blends fantastic visuals and hilarious comedy. The numbers can speak for themselves, though – since its release, it’s become the fifth highest grossing Chinese film in 2018, raking in over $115 million at the international box office.

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion

A three hour extravaganza of colour and song, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is a fantasy and adventure epic that drew record numbers worldwide – it currently stands as the first ever film to gross over ₹10 billion, doing so in just ten days.

Taking off from where its predecessor, Baahubali: The Beginning, concluded, this second instalment centres around Amarendra Baahubali, a heroic leader who makes, as Simon Abrams wrote in his five star review for RogerEbert.com, “Conan the Barbarian look like a wimp”.

An exciting and surprisingly complex film, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is a visual feast, and a must-see for any fan of Indian cinema.