Airfi aero
AirFi Aero builds portable, non-invasive wireless cabin technology (the AirFi Box and Iridium-based AirFi LEO connectivity) that delivers streaming IFE, in-seat ordering, mobile payments, and AI travel assistance to 80+ commercial airlines globally without seatback hardware or airframe modifications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersDen Haag, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Airfi aero does
AirFi Aero, founded in 2011 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is a private aviation technology company that builds portable, non-invasive cabin technology platforms for commercial airlines. Its core product is the AirFi Box (currently third-generation 'Venus'), a battery-powered, portable in-cabin server that creates a local Wi-Fi network on the aircraft, enabling passengers to stream entertainment, place in-seat orders, and use the connected crew mPOS on their personal devices without requiring any seatback hardware, app installation, or Supplemental Type Certificate. Because the hardware is classified as loose equipment, AirFi can deploy overnight across an airline's fleet, avoiding the costly and slow airframe modifications that traditional IFEC installations require.
AirFi's modular platform extends from the AirFi Box into multiple add-on modules: AirFi Streaming Entertainment (app-less browser-based DRM streaming approved by major studios including Warner Brothers), In-Seat Ordering (deployed on 500+ aircraft with TUI Netherlands as launch customer since 2014), Connected Crew mPOS (launched 2011 as the company's foundational product), a 3D Moving Map, AirFilytics cloud analytics, and — most recently — AirFi LEO Connectivity, a low-Earth-orbit inflight connectivity solution built on the Iridium Certus network via SKYTRAC's DLS-100 transceiver and AirFi's patented internal window-mounted antenna. AirFi LEO enables real-time online payment validation, inflight messaging, and powers WingMan, the company's first real-time AI travel assistant launched in April 2025. AirFi monetizes through hardware sales of the AirFi Box, recurring LEO connectivity subscriptions, in-seat ordering and mPOS modules, content and advertising revenue shares, and quote-based custom enterprise pricing. The company serves 80+ airline customers with technology live on 650+ aircraft globally, including easyJet (327 aircraft), Etihad Airways, Vueling, Scoot, TUI, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Air Cambodia, and LEAV Aviation, and operates a global support network across the Netherlands, USA, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and China through offices and regional branded partners.
Airfi aero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Airfi aero
- Legal name
- AIRFI
- Website
- https://airfi.aero
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- AirFi Aero builds portable, non-invasive wireless cabin technology (the AirFi Box and Iridium-based AirFi LEO connectivity) that delivers streaming IFE, in-seat ordering, mobile payments, and AI travel assistance to 80+ commercial airlines globally without seatback hardware or airframe modifications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Airfi aero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity Technology
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Aviation Connectivity & Onboard Cabin Technology Services (THABAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link) (IMABAFAG), Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254) (IMABAFAK)
Keywords
Where Airfi aero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Den Haag
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Airfi aero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- AirFi Box Hardware Sales: Sale of portable AirFi Box streaming hardware to airline customers. The box is now in its third generation ('Venus') and is the market-leading portable IFE product. Includes complementary solutions such as Connected Crew and AirFi LEO Connectivity.
- LEO Connectivity Subscription / Service: Recurring revenue from the AirFi LEO connectivity service leveraging Iridium Certus satellite network. Enables messaging, real-time payment verification, and other connectivity-enabled services. Contracted for installation on more than 60 aircraft worldwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Custom quote-based pricing per airline deployment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Airfi aero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AirFi Aero designs, manufactures, and operates a portable, open-platform wireless cabin technology stack for commercial airlines, anchored by the third-generation AirFi Box ('Venus') in-cabin streaming server. Its offering extends to LEO satellite connectivity (AirFi LEO via Iridium Certus), an AI-powered inflight travel assistant (WingMan), mobile point-of-sale for crew (Connected Crew), in-seat ordering, online payment validation with fraud prevention, a 3D moving map, and cloud analytics (AirFilytics). Solutions are sold and deployed as overnight, non-invasive installations requiring no Supplemental Type Certificate, used by 80+ airline customers globally.
Product overview
AirFi.Aero delivers a modular, portable cabin-technology platform anchored by the AirFi Box — a third-generation, battery-powered in-cabin server that creates a local Wi-Fi network for streaming entertainment, retail, and crew operations. Built around an open-platform architecture introduced in 2014, the AirFi Box serves as the shared backbone for a suite of add-on modules: AirFi Streaming Entertainment (browser-based IFE), the AirFi 3D Moving Map (ADS-B-powered, HTML5), AirFi In-Seat Ordering, AirFi Connected Crew (mPoS, launched 2011), AirFi LEO Connectivity (Iridium Certus / SKYTRAC-based LEO), AirFi Online Payments, AirFi Fraud Prevention, AirFi WingMan (an AI travel assistant), and AirFilytics (cloud analytics). Together these modules enable the company's "Mall in the Sky" vision — a unified digital ecosystem that pairs entertainment, connectivity, and onboard retail to drive ancillary revenue and passenger experience for over 80 airline customers worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AirFi LEO: AirFi's LEO Connectivity solution using the Iridium Certus satellite network with a patented window-mounted antenna, enabling real-time inflight connectivity, messaging, and payment verification.
- Connected Crew
- WingMan
Products and services
- AirFi Box (portable streaming IFE) Third-generation, battery-powered portable in-cabin server that creates a local Wi-Fi network enabling passengers to stream entertainment, browse retail, and place orders from their personal devices. Sold to commercial airlines for non-invasive overnight deployment with no Supplemental Type Certificate required; deployed with 80+ customers globally.
- AirFi LEO Connectivity Low-Earth-orbit inflight connectivity service built on the Iridium Certus network via SKYTRAC's DLS-100 transceiver and AirFi's patented internal window-mounted antenna. Enables online payment validation, inflight messaging (WhatsApp, iMessage, Viber), live news/sports, and powers the WingMan AI assistant for airline customers.
- AirFi WingMan Industry-first real-time AI travel assistant available inflight, launched 7 April 2025. Powered by AirFi LEO connectivity, WingMan prompts passengers for trip details and generates hyper-personalized itineraries within seconds, with continuous refinement from user interactions and real-time local information, creating new ancillary revenue opportunities for airlines.
- AirFi Connected Crew (mPoS) Mobile point-of-sale solution for cabin crew, launched in 2011 as the first mPoS for the aviation sector. Enables crew to process card and e-wallet payments in offline environments with no training required and no payment peripheral hardware needed; forms the backbone of AirFi's onboard retail offering.
- AirFi In-Seat Ordering Inflight ordering platform that lets passengers view menus, place orders, and pay from their seats via the AirFi Box web server. Live on 500+ aircraft and reports an average 10% increase in onboard sales (up to 20% uplift); integrates with all major mPOS providers and deployable in 8-12 weeks.
- AirFi 3D Moving Map
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 20% boost in onboard sales through in-seat ordering
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Airfi aero
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Airfi aero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability6 records
Feature9 records
Airfi aero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- QuiverTree MediacoreQuiverTree Media provides initial content offering (non-DRM titles) for the Air Cambodia deployment, with DRM-protected content scheduled for later in 2026. AirFi and QuiverTree are described as having an adaptable content offering tailored to regional audiences and delivered via AirFi's flexible streaming technology.
- Air CambodiaflagshipAir Cambodia selected AirFi for fleetwide wireless streaming IFE across Airbus A320 and ATR 72-600 aircraft, live from 1 February 2026. Partnership supports airline's post-rebranding modernization strategy and consistent digital experience across mixed fleet types including future Boeing 737 deliveries. Laura Rösges (CEO AirFi) and Sotiris Damianos (VP QuiverTree Media) quoted.
- Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPQ)flagshipSun PhuQuoc Airways selected AirFi as IFE partner from day one of operations (inaugural flights 1 November 2025), deploying AirFi Box across Airbus A320 and A321neo fleet. Partnership includes a dedicated 'Destinations' page featuring Phú Quốc Island and Sun Group's resort portfolio. Jane Phan (Director Asia, AirFi) quoted.
- LEAV AviationflagshipLEAV Aviation is the first airline to publicly announce deployment of AirFi's LEO connectivity solution, deployed across two Airbus A320-200 aircraft. Partnership includes wireless IFE, real-time messaging via LEO, and AirFi's mobile payment system. Quoted statements from both Daniel Broda (CEO LEAV) and Job Heimerikx (former CEO AirFi).
- IridiumflagshipAirFi LEO is created in partnership with Iridium (and SKYTRAC), using the Iridium Certus low-Earth orbit satellite network. The Iridium Certus network provides 100% global coverage, a resilient cross-linked architecture, and extremely low latency, even in severe weather. The partnership underpins AirFi's LEO connectivity solution that won the 2023 Crystal Cabin Award.
- SKYTRACflagshipSKYTRAC's DLS-100 mid-band transceiver (classified as loose equipment) is used in conjunction with antennas mounted on either side window, directing the Iridium LEO network connection through the AirFi Venus in-cabin WiFi network. Co-developed AirFi LEO solution with Iridium.
- PerseusscoreAirFi collaborates with Perseuss, Mastercard, and Worldpay to create an integrated fraud prevention ecosystem that brings e-commerce-grade fraud management protocols to inflight systems. Perseuss is also referenced alongside major credit card companies and airline trade bodies working on inflight payment validation.
- MastercardcoreMastercard is one of the payment industry experts AirFi collaborates with to create an integrated fraud prevention ecosystem, bringing e-commerce-grade fraud management protocols to inflight systems for real-time payment validation.
- WorldpaycoreWorldpay is one of the payment industry experts AirFi collaborates with to create an integrated fraud prevention ecosystem, bringing e-commerce-grade fraud management protocols to inflight systems.
- Warner Brothers EntertainmentflagshipWarner Brothers Entertainment granted licensing rights for AirFi's browser-based DRM streaming technology, with other major film studios following suit. This was a foundational milestone enabling AirFi to offer studio-licensed content on its portable streaming platform.
- United EnterpriseflagshipUnited Enterprise is AirFi's regional branded partner in China / Hong Kong, enabling local market expertise, regulatory navigation, MRO, and localization (such as integrating local payment methods like Alipay). Partnership is highlighted as crucial for AirFi's expansion in the Chinese aviation sector.
- easyJetflagshipeasyJet Onboard is the portable inflight entertainment and retail platform powered by AirFi, rolled out across 327 aircraft in just six months. Won the 2023 OBH Award for Best Onboard Technology jointly. Deployment covers games, journey-specific content, airline information, and inflight retail offerings on personal electronic devices.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Airfi aero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Panasonic Avionics: Panasonic Avionics is the dominant linefit IFEC vendor supplying seatback screens, in-flight connectivity, and entertainment systems to most major flag carriers. It competes with AirFi for the connectivity and entertainment layer on commercial aircraft, though primarily via fully certified linefit installations.
- Gogo Business Aviation: Gogo is an established inflight connectivity provider originally focused on business aviation and expanding into commercial airline connectivity. It overlaps with AirFi in the connectivity and digital services layer for commercial aircraft.
- SITA: SITA provides airline and airport IT and connectivity infrastructure including inflight connectivity solutions and crew applications. It is a broad ecosystem player in airline digital services, overlapping with AirFi on connectivity-enabled cabin services.
- Viasat: Viasat (which acquired Inmarsat) provides satellite-based inflight connectivity on commercial aircraft via Ka-band networks. It competes with AirFi LEO (built on Iridium Certus) for airline connectivity mandates, especially on regional and narrow-body fleets.
- Thales Avionics: Thales is a major avionics and IFEC incumbent offering the AVANT seatback IFE platform and FlytLIVE connectivity. It competes for airline IFEC budgets on wide-body and narrow-body fleets where linefit certification is preferred over portable retrofits.
- Global Eagle Entertainment: Global Eagle is an established provider of inflight connectivity, entertainment, and content services to commercial airlines. It has historically competed with portable IFE and connectivity providers across both the entertainment and connectivity layers.
Direct peers
- Immfly: Immfly provides a wireless IFE and onboard digital services platform (including content, retail, and payments) for airlines. Its scope and target market closely mirror AirFi's combination of streaming entertainment, in-seat ordering, and ancillary revenue tools.
- Bluebox Aviation Systems: Bluebox is a direct competitor in portable wireless IFE, offering the Bluebox Ai and Bluebox Wow streaming platforms deployed across multiple airlines. Both companies compete head-to-head for portable IFE contracts with low-cost and regional carriers.
Emerging players
- Rosen Aviation: Rosen Aviation manufactures cabin displays, moving maps, and IFE interfaces, increasingly extending into software and connected cabin systems. It is a partial competitor in the cabin technology stack where AirFi's 3D moving map and open-platform apps overlap.
Regional players
- Air China Inflight Entertainment / Moment Technology: Moment is a major Chinese wireless IFE and in-flight connectivity provider focused on Chinese carriers. It is comparable to AirFi in portable IFE and connectivity for airlines, but operates primarily in Greater China rather than globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Airfi aero social profiles
Digital presenceAirfi aero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Airfi aero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Airfi aero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Airfi aero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Airfi aero
What does Airfi aero do?
AirFi Aero designs, manufactures, and operates a portable, open-platform wireless cabin technology stack for commercial airlines, anchored by the third-generation AirFi Box ('Venus') in-cabin streaming server. Its offering extends to LEO satellite connectivity (AirFi LEO via Iridium Certus), an AI-powered inflight travel assistant (WingMan), mobile point-of-sale for crew (Connected Crew), in-seat ordering, online payment validation with fraud prevention, a 3D moving map, and cloud analytics (AirFilytics). Solutions are sold and deployed as overnight, non-invasive installations requiring no Supplemental Type Certificate, used by 80+ airline customers globally.
Is Airfi aero a public or private company?
Airfi aero is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Airfi aero founded?
Airfi aero was founded in 2011. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Airfi aero based?
Airfi aero is headquartered in Den Haag, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Airfi aero make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. AirFi Box Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are LEO Connectivity Subscription / Service.
Who are Airfi aero's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Panasonic Avionics, Gogo Business Aviation, SITA, Viasat, Thales Avionics and Global Eagle Entertainment. Direct peers are Immfly and Bluebox Aviation Systems. Rosen Aviation is listed as an emerging player. Air China Inflight Entertainment / Moment Technology is listed as a regional player.
Does Airfi aero have an API?
No public API is recorded for Airfi aero.
What industry is Airfi aero in?
Airfi aero's product category is Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAFAO, Private Aviation Connectivity & Onboard Cabin Technology Services, with a secondary code of IMABAFAG, Avionics Communication Systems (VHF/UHF/SATCOM/Data Link). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.