Last year, Meta made waves by teaming up with German airline Lufthansa to introduce Quest 3 headsets for passengers. Following this initial success, Meta is now eager to broaden its in-flight XR entertainment options to more airlines.
Meta had already rolled out its much-anticipated Travel Mode last year, which allowed Quest 2 and Quest 3 users to minimize the motion difference between themselves and airplanes—a challenge that had long plagued VR enthusiasts during travel by land, air, and sea.
Building on Travel Mode’s capabilities, Meta launched a pilot project in June, letting travelers in Lufthansa’s Allegris Business Class Suite enjoy the Quest 3 experience on select flights. This program offers passengers a virtual cinema, spatial and 360-degree videos, guided meditation sessions, and games like Connect Four and chess.
Meta has celebrated the Lufthansa program as a success, noting that nearly 4,000 passengers have already enjoyed the in-flight Quest 3 entertainment. The company is keen to extend this tech offering to additional airlines soon.
“This project is a milestone for our Travel Mode and immersive services,” says Sarah Malkin, Meta’s Director of Entertainment Content at Reality Labs. “We’re dedicated to bringing this experience to more airlines and refining our product range.”
Although Meta hasn’t disclosed which airlines might be next, this initiative will likely remain a premium feature for Business and First Class travelers, who already enjoy perks like lie-flat seating and high-end culinary offerings.
This approach isn’t new for airlines experimenting with XR. Back in 2015, Qantas was among the pioneers, offering Samsung Gear VR for first-class passengers as an in-flight treat. Other upscale airlines such as Air France, Iberia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines also previously tested VR headset programs, although these have since concluded.
