Meta Expands Quest 3 In-flight Entertainment to Additional Airlines Following Lufthansa Success

Last year, Meta revealed its collaboration with Lufthansa, the German airline, to introduce Quest 3 headsets to passengers. Thanks to the success of that initiative, Meta is now eager to roll out XR entertainment on flights with even more airlines.

The journey started with the release of Travel Mode last year. This feature, available on Quest 2 and later models, was a game-changer for VR users, addressing the age-old problem of syncing motion between the user and the airplane. Whether you’re on land, at sea, or in the air, VR motion discrepancies can be quite the challenge, but Travel Mode offers a solution.

Building on this foundation, Meta launched a pilot program in June. This initiative aimed to enhance passenger experiences by providing Quest 3 headsets to those flying in Lufthansa’s Allegris Business Class Suite on select routes. With the headset, travelers could enjoy movies and TV on virtual screens, delve into spatial and 360-degree videos, find tranquility with guided meditation, or engage in interactive games like Connect Four and chess.

The response to the Lufthansa program exceeded expectations, with nearly 4,000 passengers enjoying Quest 3’s in-flight entertainment. Buoyed by this success, Meta is eager to extend this initiative to more airlines shortly.

Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs, remarked, “This activation signifies a significant milestone for our Travel Mode and immersive services. We are now focusing on expanding this experience to more airlines and refining our product offerings.”

While Meta hasn’t yet disclosed which airlines are on their radar, it’s likely that this service will remain a premium offering, possibly exclusive to Business and First Class travelers. These passengers are typically used to perks like lie-flat seats, noise-cancelling headphones, gourmet dining, and premium drinks.

The concept of using XR headsets as a unique in-flight perk isn’t entirely new. Back in 2015, Qantas pioneered the approach by offering Samsung Gear VR to first-class passengers. Other airlines, such as Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines, also experimented with VR programs, though these have been discontinued over time.