Meta Expands Quest 3 In-Flight Entertainment to Additional Airlines Following Successful Lufthansa Trial

Last year, Meta teamed up with German airline Lufthansa to introduce Quest 3 headsets for passengers. The initiative proved to be quite popular, which has encouraged Meta to look into bringing these headsets to more airlines in the future.

Previously, Meta rolled out a feature called Travel Mode for Quest 2 headsets and newer versions. This feature was designed to help offset the confusing sense of motion that VR users often experience when onboard planes, ships, or cars.

Building on this foundation, Meta launched a trial in June, offering Quest 3 headsets to passengers in Lufthansa’s Allegris Business Class Suite. Travelers on selected flights could watch films and TV on virtual screens, enjoy spatial and 360-degree videos, try out guided meditation, and even play games like Connect Four and chess using their VR headsets.

The positive response has been incredible, with nearly 4,000 travelers experiencing in-flight fun with Quest 3. Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs, mentioned that this marks an important development stage for their Travel Mode and immersive services. Their next goal is to extend this technology to more airlines while improving their service offerings.

While Meta hasn’t specified which other airlines they plan to collaborate with, it’s anticipated that the VR headsets will be available primarily in Business or First Class. These sections often come with extras like reclining seats, high-end meals, noise-cancelling headphones, and premium beverage options.

The trend of using XR headsets for an enhanced travel experience isn’t entirely new. Back in 2015, Qantas pioneered the idea by offering Samsung Gear VR devices to its first-class passengers. Other airlines like Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines have experimented with VR headsets in the past, even though these programs didn’t last.

The interest from both airlines and passengers suggests that the integration of virtual reality into air travel could be a promising step forward, promising to redefine how travelers spend their time in the sky.