Last year, Meta proudly announced its collaboration with the German airline Lufthansa to introduce Quest 3 headsets to their passengers. This venture proved successful, and now Meta is looking to spread these in-flight XR entertainment programs to a wider range of airlines.
The introduction of Travel Mode last year marked a significant advancement. Designed for Quest 2 headsets and above, this feature addressed the challenge of motion discrepancies between the user and the airplane, an issue that has long troubled VR users traveling by land, air, and sea.
Building on this foundation, Meta launched a pilot program in June during which passengers flying in Lufthansa’s Allegris Business Class Suite were offered a Quest 3 on select flights. This allowed them to enjoy a variety of activities, from watching movies and TV shows on virtual screens to engaging with spatial and 360-degree videos. They could even indulge in guided meditation or play classic games like Connect Four and chess.
Images of the Quest Travel Mode demonstrate the capabilities and appeal of this innovative feature. The Lufthansa program’s success, with nearly 4,000 travelers experiencing in-flight entertainment through Quest 3, has motivated Meta to consider expanding these offerings to additional airlines soon.
Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “This activation marks a pivotal moment in the development of our Travel Mode and immersive services. Our focus now is on extending this service to more airlines and refining our product lineup.”
While Meta hasn’t announced which airlines they’re targeting next, it’s safe to assume that this could be an amenity reserved for Business and First Class passengers—groups accustomed to benefits like lay-flat seats, noise-cancelling headphones, gourmet meals, and premium beverages.
This isn’t the first instance of airlines dabbling in XR headsets as exclusive perks. Back in 2015, Qantas, an Australian airline, was among the pioneers, offering Samsung Gear VR as part of their first class in-flight entertainment. Other airlines like Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines also tested VR headset programs, but those have since been phased out.
