Southwest Doesn't Like IFE Options But Keeping Eyes Open
Old news but still interesting....
22 June 2004
Aviation Daily
Southwest executives reported last week that they do not see any inflight entertainment options on the market that would fit the airline's model but are still open to adding something if the right product came along.
For months, Southwest has been evaluating various IFE options available for aircraft installation, as well as other products, such as DVD rentals on the ground. "We're still evaluating all the options, but we haven't found one that we're completely convinced is the right answer for us," CEO Jim Parker told reporters last week at an inflight news conference above New York.
He expressed concerns about the cost to retrofit 400 Boeing 737s with some type of IFE system and noted the technology is always changing and improving. "The risk exists that you make a major decision to install a system on your fleet and it would become obsolete" in a relatively short time.
Southwest Operations Chief Jim Wimberly believes many of the IFE systems available today are "old technology." He's also concerned that a complex system would add measurable weight to the aircraft, which would make individual flights more costly. While the airline has a handful of transcontinental flights, he said about 80% of the airline's flights are still short-haul.
Parker said the airline did discuss some type of DVD player rental program that would require ground and air support. He questions how much demand there is for DVD-player rentals as many passengers already bring DVD players or digital audio players on Southwest flights. Even though several of Southwest's low-cost competitors are raising the bar for inflight entertainment, "I just don't hear the outcry from our passengers," Parker said. -SL
AI
