Air India is redefining how its passengers experience inflight entertainment (IFE) and services with a new platform, developed by the airline’s in-house design and software teams.
The Vista Digital Platform will be available on select new aircraft deliveries before being extended across the fleet. It will feature several patent-pending innovations and is being integrated with IFE hardware systems.
Designed to create a more personalised and connected guest experience, it aims to deliver greater consistency across IFE hardware types on aircraft while enabling richer interactions before, during and after journeys.
The Vista Digital Platform will serve as an extension of Air India’s wider digital ecosystem. Harnessing advances in software architecture, artificial intelligence (AI) and inflight connectivity, the platform will enable the airline to introduce new features, services and content faster and more efficiently.
It will present passengers with a consistent and familiar experience across the Air India fleet, regardless of the aircraft. The platform will also support over-the-air software and content updates, helping deliver new features and improvements more efficiently.
Working seamlessly with Air India’s mobile app, website and backend digital platforms, it will provide access to loyalty services, travel information and booking-related features through the seatback screen. Meanwhile, the Air India mobile app will evolve into a companion experience, enabling guests to browse and curate entertainment preferences before boarding and interact with the inflight entertainment system during the flight.
Personalisation will offer passengers the opportunity to pick up entertainment where they left off, resuming a movie or programme from the same point on their next Air India flight.
The interface will feature personalisation that travellers have come to expect from leading over-the-top (OTT) digital and streaming services. Its AI-powered experience is intended to highlight relevant content and services.
A patent-pending commerce-on-map capability could enable guests to discover and book experiences and travel services related to destinations they are flying over or planning to visit.
As digital, connectivity and artificial intelligence technologies continue to evolve, the platform is expected to serve as a foundation for new products, services and experiences across the airline’s ecosystem.
Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Air India, said: ” The adoption of open-source operating systems by inflight 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 personalised 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.”
