Japan Airlines Launches Headrest Speakers for In-Flight Entertainment

Japan Airlines (JAL) has introduced a new feature for its in-flight entertainment system, which allows passengers to enjoy audio content without using headphones. The feature, called Headrest Speakers, uses directional speakers embedded in the headrests of the seats, which deliver sound directly to the ears of the passengers. The feature is designed to provide a more comfortable and immersive experience for the passengers, as well as to reduce the environmental impact of disposable headphones.

How Headrest Speakers Work and What They Offer

Headrest Speakers use a technology called parametric speakers, which emit sound waves in a narrow beam, similar to a laser. The sound waves can only be heard by the person who is in the path of the beam, and not by the surrounding people. The sound quality is also high, as the sound waves do not lose energy or get distorted by the air.

Headrest Speakers offer several benefits for the passengers, such as:

• They eliminate the need to wear headphones, which can be uncomfortable, unhygienic, or incompatible with the passengers’ devices.
• They allow the passengers to enjoy the audio content without disturbing others, as the sound is only audible to them.
• They enhance the audio experience, as the sound is more natural and realistic, and the passengers can adjust the volume and the direction of the speakers.
• They reduce the environmental impact, as the passengers do not need to use disposable headphones, which generate waste and consume resources.

How to Use Headrest Speakers and Where to Find Them

Headrest Speakers are easy to use, and the passengers can access them through the following steps:

• They need to connect their own devices, such as smartphones or tablets, to the in-flight entertainment system via Bluetooth or USB.
• They need to select the audio content they want to listen to, such as music, podcasts, or movies, from the in-flight entertainment system or their own devices.
• They need to activate the Headrest Speakers by pressing a button on the seat controller, and adjust the volume and the direction of the speakers according to their preference.

Headrest Speakers are currently available on select JAL flights, such as:

• The Tokyo Haneda-Singapore route, operated by the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which features the JAL Sky Suite III seats in business class and the JAL Sky Wider seats in economy class.
• The Tokyo Narita-New York route, operated by the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which features the JAL Sky Suite seats in first class, business class, premium economy class, and economy class.

Headrest Speakers are expected to be installed on more JAL flights in the future, as part of the airline’s efforts to improve its in-flight entertainment system and to enhance its customer satisfaction.

Japan Airlines launches headrest speakers for in-flight entertainment. The feature uses directional speakers embedded in the headrests, which deliver sound directly to the ears of the passengers. The feature is designed to provide a more comfortable and immersive experience for the passengers, as well as to reduce the environmental impact of disposable headphones.