TUI Unveils Europe’s First Inflight Platform for Entertainment, WhatsApp Messaging, and Real‑Time Excursion Bookings

(IN SHORT) TUI has launched a groundbreaking inflight digital platform on 59 Boeing short‑ and medium‑haul aircraft—expanding to 74 this year—that combines movies, series, podcasts, and games with real‑time messaging via WhatsApp over the Iridium Certus network. Passengers can also explore and reserve more than 1,500 curated excursions through TUI Musement, with seamless post‑landing payment. Exclusive TUI World Cook content and promotional rates for sustainable TUI Collection experiences further enrich the offering. An interactive 3D flight map provides detailed journey data, and pricing starts at €3.90 (or £3.35) for entertainment and €3.50 for one hour of messaging. The hardware‑independent system, nominated for the FTE Innovate Award, lays the groundwork for future enhancements like high‑speed connectivity and additional apps.

(PRESS RELEASE) HANNOVER, 2025-Jul-17 — /Travel PR News/ — TUI is elevating the inflight journey by offering passengers across Europe an all‑in‑one digital platform that brings entertainment, messaging, and destination planning directly to their personal devices. Already live on 59 short‑ and medium‑haul Boeing aircraft—with 15 more to follow this year—this innovative system allows holidaymakers to watch films, chat with friends, and even book excursions en route to their beach getaway.

Chief Commercial Officer Peter Glade explained, “Our new platform fuses entertainment, travel insights, and services at the moment our guests’ holidays begin: in the air. We’re also proud to be the first airline to let travellers reserve exclusive excursions for their destination while still jetting to the beach.”

Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity
Passengers can stream from a library of 100 movies in eight languages, 20 TV series, 16 podcasts, and six games. Exclusive content like TUI World Cook – Season 1 is offered free of charge. In a global first, TUI has enabled WhatsApp messaging via the Iridium Certus satellite network, compatible with both iOS and Android, bookable by the hour or for the entire flight. Additional messaging apps such as iMessage will be added soon.

Discover and Book Excursions
Through TUI Musement, travellers can browse over 1,500 handpicked experiences—guided tours, cooking workshops, cultural performances—and select their favourites while airborne. After landing, a secure payment link arrives by email, allowing for swift confirmation. Special promotional rates apply to TUI Collection, the airline’s lineup of sustainable, locally led activities.

“TUI Musement’s goal is to make top‑tier experiences accessible at every step,” said Mirco Fiumene, Chief Marketing Officer. “By embedding our curated adventures into the inflight platform, we inspire guests to envision and shape their trip before touchdown.”

Enhanced Flight Information & Future Innovations
An interactive 3D flight map displays real‑time progress, altitude, speed, outside temperature, and remaining flight time. Jill Nye, Director of Customer, Cabin Crew and Inflight Services, added, “Guest feedback confirms we’ve hit the mark. We’re committed to a flexible solution that adapts to evolving expectations—and we’re already exploring high‑speed connectivity and expanded content.”

Affordable Access
Full entertainment access starts at €3.90 or £3.35 per device. WhatsApp connectivity is priced from €3.50 for one hour or €6.00 for the flight duration. Built on hardware‑agnostic technology, the platform promises long‑term viability and has been nominated for the FTE Innovate Award as a benchmark in smart, cost‑effective, and sustainable narrowband inflight solutions.

Media contact:

Jakob Märtens
+49 (0)511 567 2105
jakob.maertens@tui.de

SOURCE: TUI Group