In-flight entertainment had its golden age. Perhaps in the early 2000s, it was exciting when you boarded a flight and had the opportunity to watch an in-cinema movie while fumbling over your dinner tray and fighting over the armrest.
However, in-flight entertainment has become rather mediocre now. With iPads, portable gaming devices, and mobile phones, I personally avoid using those horrible dim 480p screens that are slapped into the seat in front of me.
Delta Air Lines is switching things up. The company has announced that it is overhauling the in-flight entertainment experience to make someone like me enjoy it a bit more. We’re talking about adding 4K HDR QLED panels to commercial flights so your entertainment will look better than it has been in the last twenty years.
The move to 4K HDR QLED is a rather substantial one. Up to now, most airlines make use of dated IPS panels with dim backlights and horrible motion handling. 4K HDR QLED is going to put these in-flight displays on par with your TV at home – albeit just much smaller.
Delta Air Lines revealed the news at CES, where the company detailed a number of cool new advancements coming to select commercial flights. The airline is partnering with Uber and YouTube as well as implementing an AI-powered chatbot for customer service (eww). The YouTube partnership will offer free YouTube Premium + Music to passengers during flights.
Delta is working with Thales Avionics, a company that handles in-flight technology, to install these new 4K HDR QLED panels. Thales Avionics is also working with Emirates on new high-definition displays for its Airbus A350-900s (only HD – get with the times, Emirates).
Don’t expect to board your next Delta Air Lines flight and enjoy these fancy new panels just yet, though. The company says the rollout will only start in 2026. Right now, it is all in the planning phase. Delta has also remained tight-lipped on who exactly will get these 4K HDR QLED screens. Will they be installed for all passengers or just first class?
Delta is also upgrading the Bluetooth experience across select flights. In late 2025, passengers will be able to pair their audio equipment to their entertainment system through Bluetooth. So no more wires!
Still, this is great news. While it has taken literal decades for airlines to upgrade the in-flight technology, it is nice to see it finally happening, even if some airlines are still trailing behind with HD screens.
