Finnair Trials HP ElitePad 900 Tablets for IFE

Finnair passengers now have the opportunity to try the Windows 8-powered HP ElitePad 900 tablets as inflight entertainment.

Finnair today launched a two-month trial of the tablets and wireless internet service on board one of its Airbus A330 wide body aircraft. The plane, with the registration OH-LTT, will be used on both scheduled and charter flights.

“We want to enhance our customers' inflight comfort,” said Peter Gabrielsson, Vice President Customer Experience, Finnair. “We want to test the functionality of the wireless network on intercontinental flights and how the passengers use the equipment during the flight. We are interested in learning how the use is divided between the fixed inflight entertainment system and the tablet.”

Riitta Eiskonen, Services Lead, Microsoft Finland, said, “Microsoft and Finnair had a unique opportunity to re-imagine what inflight entertainment means to our customers. Windows 8, with its revolutionary touch-optimized user interface and rapid application development, allowed Microsoft to quickly develop a visually stunning entertainment system and deliver a first-class experience to thousands of Finnair passengers.”

The test will take place in Business Class on scheduled flights and in Comfort Class on charter flights. Passengers willing to participate in the test are offered an HP ElitePad tablet, which includes movies, TV shows, music and games. Additionally, the tablet includes wellness-related programs, such as a relaxation app to cope with time difference.

Passengers will be asked to participate in a survey, and the information obtained will be used to develop Finnair’s inflight entertainment service concept.

Finnair's partners in this test also include Nordkapp, which is responsible for the visual design of the tablet’s user interface. OnAir provides satellite communications and the onboard Wi-Fi service (Internet OnAir) and Spafax the audio and video content.

Ari Koskinen, Director and General Manager, Printing and Personal Systems, HP Finland, said, “To offer a unique inflight entertainment experience to its customers, HP provides Finnair an enterprise-grade ElitePad tablet that combines the great style and user experience consumers demand with the features IT requires. The HP ElitePad is a powerful and stylish business tablet for an optimal inflight customer experience.”