Jet2.com, the Dart Group plc/Channel Express budget airline offspring, is to offer personal media players on its flights, the same units very successfully introduced by Silverjet on its business class only services from Luton. Similar units were also tried by Ryanair last year, and proved a failure. The problem for the Irish airline was that nobody had realised that films were often longer than the flight duration. The Jet2.com units offers shorter TV-style entertainment, plus music including the latest comedy, sports and children’s TV programmes. The airline took the precaution of testing the units on a number of routes before rolling out.

The TV units, with their excellent fast forward and search facility, have been introduced in conjunction with Mezzo Movies. Loaded on each machine are over 50 TV programmes, 50 music videos and over 100 CD albums. The television entertainment includes Little Britain, The Office and the Vicar of Dibley to the BBC’s Planet Earth, Footballer’s Wives, as well as The Simpsons, Basil Brush and Postman Pat.

Jet2.com boss Philip Meeson said: “Once again we are setting the benchmark for standards in the low cost airline industry.” Kids will love the great choice of programmes to watch and for adults there’s a wide selection of some of the nation’s best-loved shows. We are expecting less of, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ and more of, ‘Can we stay onboard?’”

Dave Sampson, one of Mezzo’s founders, agreed: “We know that Jet2.com customers are extremely happy with the entertainment we’re providing on flights from Leeds Bradford and Manchester. During four months of testing, our passenger research showed that everyone who rented a Mezzo player, and who was asked, said they would rent one next time they fly.”