Quantcast

Wireless IFE providers adopt new tech to combat inflight fraud

Qantas launches mammoth Asia flight sale including Bali and Japan
New Update from Air Canada, WestJet, American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue Airways, and Sunwing: Airline Capacity Between Canada and US Slashed as Bookings Plummet Seventy Per Cent
Delta Cuts Two Domestic Routes
United Airlines Technicians Reject ‘Dead on Arrival’ Contract Proposal, Teamsters Say
The State of the Asia Pacific Airline Industry
Spirit Airlines to add Detroit nonstop flight out of Bradley International Airport
Major airline to launch new direct flights from Scotland to North America
Ryanair launches new ‘prime’ membership which saves passengers more than £400 a year
Judge Orders Boeing to Trial on 737 MAX Case
Qantas’ free international Wi-Fi to switch on from next week
The real reason Southwest is charging for bags now
Air France-KLM in ongoing talks with Air Europa on potential stake, CEO says
Frontier Savagely Shades Southwest After They Eliminated Longstanding Free Bag Policy, Sparking Backlash
Frontier Wants You to 'Divorce Your Old Airline' After Southwest Changes
Delta named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for sustainability initiatives
Passengers escape fiery American Airlines jet in Denver
Delta, American Dive On Slashed Outlooks; But Two Airlines Rally
Competitors are circling Southwest after the airline announced it's going to start charging for checked bags
Exclusive: Dominican Low-Cost Carrier Arajet Wants to Disrupt NYC Market
Boeing deliveries rise 63% in February from a year earlier
Transportation Secretary Duffy Lays Out 10 Ways the FAA Is Working to Upgrade Air Traffic Control and Make Flying Safer
EasyJet pilot Paul Elsworth suspended after flying too close to mountain
Delta Air Lines bets on ‘blended-wing’ flight to reduce emissions
Europe's airlines pivot to bite size M&A deals to limit cost, regulatory burden
Dave Emerson named new CEO of Virgin Australia, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka
Ryanair DELAYS controversial new boarding pass rule to avoid summer chaos
FAA Orders Inspection, Replacement of 737NG Engine Parts
Spirit Adds New Airport, Three Routes
Delta crash passengers should take the $30,000 payment, their lawyers say. Here’s why.
Budget airline launches new cheap flights to one of the UK’s top winter sun destinations
Wireless IFE providers adopt new tech to combat inflight fraud
Events
Webp 1j2z2he2jv85ft2pvno4u4jt2coq
Becca Alkema Operations Manager and Contributing Writer | Runway Girl Network

For nearly a decade, the makers of portable wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) solutions have enabled airlines to offer passengers onboard entertainment without major aircraft retrofits or costly seatback screens.

Facilitating a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model, these compact boxes—containing both a server and wireless access points (WAPs)—stream content such as movies, TV shows, games, audio entertainment, and moving maps to passengers’ own devices. Customized portals, buy-on-board menus, and advertising can also be facilitated.

While these units might be battery-powered and carried on board by crew members or catering employees or connected to aircraft power, they have not featured live connectivity until recently.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

This is changing with Iridium’s introduction of the Certus 100 mid-band service in aviation. With IP data speeds of up to 88 Kbps, Certus 100 supports social messaging, real-time credit card transactions, and other operational benefits. Consequently, some wireless IFE and e-commerce specialists are augmenting their systems with this Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satcom service.

During the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg, Runway Girl Network journalists interviewed two providers—AirFi and Bluebox Aviation Systems—to understand their market approaches. Both confirm that reducing inflight fraud is a primary driver for adoption.

AirFi LEO

Since introducing its first portable streaming solution to air and rail sectors in 2014, AirFi now offers AirFi LEO in aviation. This IP-based solution is supported by two antennas mounted inside aircraft windows.

AirFi is seeing “serious momentum” for AirFi LEO, said company founding partner and CEO Job Heimerikx. The boxes were contracted in Q1 by various carriers for installation on 50 aircraft. “And the beauty is that it’s across the world. It’s with all kinds of aircraft types… So it’s a very nice picture,” Heimerikx noted.

Using two window-mounted antennas creates a redundant system compared to one receiver on top of the aircraft while maintaining reception performance. Heimerikx emphasized that using window-mounted antennas avoids the costs associated with drilling holes in the fuselage for patch antennas—a significant consideration for low-cost carriers and smaller airlines that lease aircraft.

When AirFi introduced its ‘Mall in the Sky’ offering post-COVID-19—enabling gate-to-gate inflight shopping and onboard advertising—it saw significant uptake in-seat ordering. Adding Iridium Certus 100-powered real-time credit card authentication addresses inflight fraud.

“The number one reason why carriers are choosing AirFi LEO is to eradicate onboard fraud,” confided Heimerikx.

He added: “It’s like a pest in the industry where fraudulent payments or transactions can range from 2% to up to 10%. If we can bring that simple check of payment to the ground and back, we can eliminate fraud entirely.”

As an added benefit, LEO augmentation enables airlines to offer free social messaging for passengers. “We’re working on different messaging systems because every region has a different preference,” said Heimerikx. Popular choices include WhatsApp and X (formerly known as Twitter). Crew can also use messaging services for operational improvements.

Bluebox Wow plus FFLYA

Live credit card payment transactions drive Bluebox’s decision to integrate its Blueview platform—the digital services software running atop its Bluebox Wow portable units—with what it describes as a “low-cost, low-weight connectivity solution” from FFLYA powered by Iridium Certus 100.

Calling the service a “big game changer,” Bluebox CEO Ken Clark noted at AIX 2024: “[I]t means if you’re an airline selling food and beverages on the plane...transactions will typically be limited...because that’s the maximum risk of fraud...If you could do that in real time...airlines could increase [limits] allowing sales beyond just cigarettes.”

Successful ground testing saw purchases sent wirelessly from a tablet to the Bluebox Wow portable unit connected through an STD’d patch antenna atop the aircraft to Iridium Certus satellites enabling real-time payment validation. An STC for this antenna install is available for Airbus A320 family aircraft.

Close observers might find this implementation surprising since FFLYA was billed as an inflight Bluetooth free messaging platform using window antennas during Wizz Air trials. However, Bluebox’s adoption involves wireless IP-based rather than Bluetooth technology confirmed Catherine Brown, head of marketing at Bluebox.

An Iridium spokeswoman confirmed: “The system FFLYA uses is certified by Iridium.”

Ron Chapman of ASI Group explained why patch antennas are used: “Ops services are geared for IP so must be live...guaranteeing 100% coverage.”

However, Heimerikx disputes this necessity: “[S]ending a 50Kb message over AirFi-LEO/Iridium Certus network isn’t hard at all.”

Low-cost carriers appear poised to tackle onboard fraud significantly benefiting both airlines and passengers who may otherwise bear higher costs due to scammers' actions.

___

Organizations Included in this History
More News

London Heathrow, recognized as Europe's busiest airport, will soon experience an increase in its flight offerings by Oman Air.

Sep 2, 2025

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport will commence safety and airfield improvement projects on Runway 12R-30L in two distinct phases throughout 2025.

Aug 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

UNI Global Union's U.S. affiliate, SEIU, is staging protests across the country against the detention of immigrant workers, including SEIU members.

Apr 18, 2025

An international delegation was barred from entering an Elanders/Bergen Logistics distribution center in New Jersey.

Apr 18, 2025

UNI Global Union affiliate, Communication Workers’ Union of Kenya (COWU Kenya), and Teleperformance have reached a local implementation agreement in Kenya.

Apr 18, 2025