Singapore Airlines Aiming for Paperless Cabin

In its latest move towards more environmentally-friendly operations, with the ultimate aim of a paperless cabin, Singapore Airlines will progressively introduce an electronic version of magazines on its KrisWorld inflight entertainment system.

As a first step, the airline will offer in electronic format its three inflight magazines - SilverKris, KrisShop and KrisWorld - as part of a trial with a privately held Singapore-based company, SmarttPapers Aviation.

SilverKris, SIA’s travel magazine; KrisShop, the airline’s inflight sales catalogue; and KrisWorld, SIA’s inflight entertainment guide; will be the first publications featured as part of the inflight entertainment system offerings.

The SmarttPapers application uses a patented file compression technology to compress and transform magazines and newspaper contents into a digital format for integration into the inflight entertainment system.

In line with efforts to reduce the amount of paper carried on board, thus reducing weight and saving fuel, the airline aims to extend this initiative to other publications at a later date, including menu cards and the more than 100 international and local magazines currently carried systemwide. The plan is also to introduce e-newspapers and e-books on board using the same technology.

Singapore Airlines will be the first in the world to have this unique feature on its aircraft fleet equipped with the latest Panasonic eX2 inflight entertainment system (IFE), starting with two Boeing 777-300ERs from 31 July 2010, followed by two Airbus A380s. More A380s and B777-300ERs, as well as other aircraft fitted with the eX2 system - Airbus A330-300s and A340-500s - will have this feature included in the fleet.

Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President Product & Services, Mr Yap Kim Wah, said, “This opens up a wide range of opportunities to benefit our customers and at the same time results in less weight in the aircraft. E-books and e-magazines have gained popularity and we want to offer these to our customers.”

Winston Wei, CEO of SmarttPapers Aviation Pte Ltd, added, “We are pleased to be chosen by SIA to enable this revolutionary onboard experience. Customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of current and archived publications starting with the Airline’s three inflight magazines in high resolution from the comfort of their seats. Features will include a keyword search, personalised font size and different zooming levels to aid reading.”

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