Resilience, adaptiveness and collaboration vital for success in space (Studio)
Speakers at the Defence In Space Conference (DISC) 2025 highlighted the critical and evolving role of space in national security, defence and the global economy.
Hawaiian upgrades to digEplayer XLP
Hawaiian Airlines has signed a new four year contract extension with handheld inflight entertainment provider digEcor, to upgrade the airline’s IFE offering from the digEplayer 5500 to the digEplayer XLP.
digEcor president Brad Heckel commented, “The implementation of the digEplayer XLP is the first step in a longer term strategic partnership between Hawaiian and digEcor. We are dedicated to providing our clients with a robust IFE solution including flexible hardware, low cost content, and revenue generative programmes. These customer benefits are a result of the continuous improvement programmes, such as lean manufacturing and software development, that we have implemented.”
The first phase of the new agreement includes the replacement of approximately half of Hawaiian’s current digEplayer 5500 inventory, with the remaining stock being replaced in phase two. Also, the digEplayer XLPs will be initially offered on longer, premium routes.
Fully committed to revenue sponsored entertainment, the agreement also includes provisions to implement new revenue generative programmes such as shopping and advertising. “Hawaiian has one of the most impressive and well-oiled IFE rental programmes that we have seen in the industry,” Heckel observed. “Currently, the revenue just from the rental programme makes the digEplayer one of the best ancillary revenue programmes that Hawaiian has inflight. The addition of our new programmes will further increase the profitability for Hawaiian.”
digEcor content administrator Jed Thompson noted, “Our close relationship with the studios allows us to pass content cost savings to Hawaiian and our other customers.”
Hawaiian’s vice-president Louis Saint-Cyr added, “The wide range of inflight content choices that we are able to provide our customers through our digEplayer programme is one of the great reasons our customers love our IFE.”
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Resilience, adaptiveness and collaboration vital for success in space (Studio)]()
-
![Why the NORAD inventory might be the US and Canada’s Achilles’ heel]()
Why the NORAD inventory might be the US and Canada’s Achilles’ heel
Both the US and Canada operate Cold War-era capabilities which cannot defeat today’s and tomorrow’s threats.
-
![Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems]()
Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems
Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.
-
![Forging strong partnerships for warfighting communications in space (Studio)]()
Forging strong partnerships for warfighting communications in space (Studio)
Mike Moran, Director of US Government Business at Amazon Project Kuiper Government Solutions, highlighted the evolution of space as a critical warfighting domain at the Defence in Space Conference (DISC) 2025, held this week in London.
-
![Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans]()
Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans
In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.
-
![European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap]()
European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap
Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.
