British Airways to trial VR on select flights

British Airways, the second-largest airline in the UK, will begin trialling virtual reality on select flights this year.

The headsets will be available for first class passengers on flights between London’s Heathrow and New York’s JFK airports.

The choice of entertainment will include Full HD, 2D, 3D and 360-degree programming. Movies, TV shows and documentaries will be included in the media library, boasting 250 hours of content, along with guided meditation and immersive therapies to help calm the nerves of those with a fear of flying.

New research shows that VR has unbound potential in a therapeutic capacity. Some companies are using VR to successfully help people overcome their fear of heights and some hospitals are trialling and successfully implementing patient rehabilitation through immersive environments. 

In a press release, Head of Inflight Product, Sajida Ismail, said: “Virtual reality has the power to revolutionise in-flight entertainment and we’re really excited to trial these new glasses as they should create a unique and memorable journey for our First customers.”

British Airways becomes the first UK airline to offer VR
British Airways becomes the first UK airline to offer VR / Credit: British Airways

British Airways are also running virtual reality on the ground, at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The airline is showcasing immersive experiences which put the viewer in flights throughout history, from Leonardo da Vinci’s ornithopter of the 16th century to the first passenger flight in the early twentieth century.

The headsets, provided by SkyLights, have already been in use across the world in thousands of airport lounges and flights. Alaska Airlines, Sri Lankan, Garuda and AirFrance are among who have already deployed the technology.  

British Airways will become the first UK airline to use the VR headsets, following an announcement outlining plans their plans to invest £6.5 billion in their customers over the next five years.

Luke Conrad

Technology & Marketing Enthusiast

Birmingham Unveils the UK’s Best Emerging HealthTech Advances

Kosta Mavroulakis • 03rd April 2025

The National HealthTech Series hosted its latest event in Birmingham this month, showcasing innovative startups driving advanced health technology, including AI-assisted diagnostics, wearable devices and revolutionary educational tools for healthcare professionals. Health stakeholders drawn from the NHS, universities, industry and front-line patient care met with new and emerging businesses to define the future trajectory of...

Why DEIB is Imperative to Tech’s Future

Hadas Almog from AppsFlyer • 17th March 2025

We’ve been seeing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives being cut time and time again throughout the tech industry. DEIB dedicated roles have been eliminated, employee resource groups have lost funding, and initiatives once considered crucial have been deprioritised in favour of “more immediate business needs.” The justification for these cuts is often the...

The need to eradicate platform dependence

Sue Azari • 10th March 2025

The advertising industry is undergoing a seismic shift. Connected TV (CTV), Retail Media Networks (RMNs), and omnichannel strategies are rapidly redefining how brands engage with consumers. As digital privacy regulations evolve and platform dynamics shift, advertisers must recognise a fundamental truth. You cannot build a sustainable business on borrowed ground. The recent uncertainty surrounding TikTok...

The need to clean data for effective insight

David Sheldrake • 05th March 2025

There is more data today than ever before. In fact, the total amount of data created, captured, copied, and consumed globally has now reached an incredible 149 zettabytes. The growth of the big mountain is not expected to slow down, either, with it expected to reach almost 400 zettabytes within the next three years. Whilst...

What can be done to democratize VDI?

Dennis Damen • 05th March 2025

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) offers businesses enhanced security, scalability, and compliance, yet it remains a niche technology. One of the biggest barriers to widespread adoption is a severe talent gap. Many IT professionals lack hands-on VDI experience, as their careers begin with physical machines and increasingly shift toward cloud-based services. This shortage has created a...

Tech and Business Outlook: US Confident, European Sentiment Mixed

Viva Technology • 11th February 2025

The VivaTech Confidence Barometer, now in its second edition, reveals strong confidence among tech executives regarding the impact of emerging technologies on business competitiveness, particularly AI, which is expected to have the most significant impact in the near future. Surveying tech leaders from Europe and North America, 81% recognize their companies as competitive internationally, with...