Hamburg-based IFE start-up AERQ has announced that it will discontinue its business activities. In line with the decision, the company will immediately stop offering and development of its platform-based in-flight entertainment system Aerena. This decision affects around 180 employees at its Hamburg headquarters and the closure will be concluded as part of a wind-down procedure, which is currently being prepared.
The company was founded in 2019 by Lufthansa Technik and LG Electronics, with a plan to launch a digital cabin solution for commercial airlines that integrated methods of increasing passenger revenue, such as destination tours, as well as a traditional IFE offering of music, movies and TV shows. Crucially, the system was cloud-based which would have allowed airlines to adjust the content and presentation very quickly. The system, known as Aerena was recently launched for operational demonstration on an Airbus A320.
Although the product met expectations in terms of features, quality, and customer satisfaction in ongoing flight operations, AERQ was facing significant obstacles to enter a very sensitive market for IFE systems.
In a statement authored by Verena Bintaro, Director of Marketing, Communications & Partnerships at the company, she said: “The shareholders have mutually agreed to conclude AERQ’s journey here and part ways. AERQ’s operations will, as a result, cease with immediate effect”.
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