AirFi has introduced AirFunnl, a new media delivery stack designed to enhance the efficiency of streaming inflight entertainment (IFE) by reducing content deployment times, lowering operating costs and improving playback performance for passengers.
Developed by AirFi and supported by the AION Media Group TITAN media suite, AirFunnl combines AI-enhanced digital rights management (DRM) encoding, adaptive bitrate streaming and Common Media Application Format (CMAF) packaging to optimise media delivery for airline operators.
According to AirFi, the platform reduces average content file sizes by up to 45 percent through AI-optimised encoding without compromising video quality. Smaller files enable faster content distribution, lower cellular ground data transfer costs and quicker updates to AirFi’s wireless IFE systems.
“AirFunnl gives airlines three things that hugely improve the IFE operational experience: smaller files, faster refresh and smooth playback on personal devices,” said Marco Dorjee, Vice President of IFE and LEO Operations at AirFi.
“We’ve essentially halved the weight of the content files being sent to the aircraft. Airlines will see lower distribution costs and leaner operations, while passengers will appreciate fresher choices and less buffering or loading time,” he added.
The platform also incorporates adaptive bitrate streaming, allowing video quality to adjust automatically based on onboard network conditions to ensure consistent playback on passengers’ personal devices.
AirFunnl’s zero-touch orchestration automates content ingest, packaging, encryption and quality assurance, reducing manual intervention and simplifying deployment workflows for airlines and content service providers.
In addition, the solution supports fully offline playback on passengers’ own devices while employing studio-grade DRM with standard encryption across major mobile operating systems to protect premium content.
Built on the Common Media Application Format (CMAF), AirFunnl uses a single set of fragmented MP4 files that are compatible with both HLS and DASH streaming protocols. This approach reduces storage requirements, eliminates duplicate content packaging, and lowers streaming latency.
AirFi said AirFunnl is available for both airline and content service provider deployments. The platform is compatible with AirFi’s wireless IFE architecture and can be integrated into third-party content service providers’ workflows, enabling faster, more efficient media delivery across airline fleets.
