Safran Passenger Innovations
Safran Passenger Innovations provides integrated in-flight entertainment and connectivity (RAVE) systems to over 100 global airline, business aviation, and aircraft OEM customers. Following its February 2026 carve-out from Safran Group, the company was acquired by Kingswood Capital Management and rebranded as RAVE Aerospace.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBrea, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Safran Passenger Innovations does
Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) is a Brea, California-based provider of in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems, founded in 2005 and serving over 100 commercial airline, business aviation, and aircraft OEM customers globally. The company's core platform is RAVE, an integrated IFEC system designed to deliver passenger entertainment and cabin connectivity, with a stated emphasis on integration and interoperability into aircraft cabin systems. SPI augments RAVE with exclusive third-party technology integrations, notably a January 2026 partnership with Skyted to embed silent communication capability that allows hundreds of passengers to make confidential calls simultaneously without disturbing cabin quiet.
SPI operates a B2B enterprise sales motion, selling hardware and integration services directly to airlines and aircraft manufacturers, with systems installed via OEM line-fit programs and retrofit campaigns. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of RAVE systems complemented by professional services for technology integration. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with long-cycle, multi-year aerospace program contracts typical of the IFEC industry. The company employs 501–1,000 people and maintains a global customer footprint spanning North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
In December 2025, Safran Group agreed to divest SPI to Kingswood Capital Management, with the transaction completing in February 2026 and the company rebranded as RAVE Aerospace under CEO Matt Smith. The acquisition represents Kingswood's second aerospace and defense investment and ended SPI's status as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly listed French aerospace conglomerate. Following the carve-out, SPI/RAVE Aerospace continues to operate from Brea, California, retaining its customer base and product roadmap while gaining private equity sponsorship for the next phase of platform development.
Safran Passenger Innovations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Safran Passenger Innovations
- Legal name
- Safran Passenger Innovations
- Website
- https://safran-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Safran Passenger Innovations provides integrated in-flight entertainment and connectivity (RAVE) systems to over 100 global airline, business aviation, and aircraft OEM customers. Following its February 2026 carve-out from Safran Group, the company was acquired by Kingswood Capital Management and rebranded as RAVE Aerospace.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Safran Passenger Innovations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity Systems
- NAICS
- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) & Connectivity (IFEC) (THABAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- In-Flight Customer Experience, Service Design & Personalization (THABAMAI)
Keywords
Where Safran Passenger Innovations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brea
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Safran Passenger Innovations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- In-Flight Entertainment Systems: Sale and integration of RAVE in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems to airlines and aircraft manufacturers
- Technology Integration Services: Integration of third-party silent communication solutions into the RAVE platform
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Safran Passenger Innovations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Safran Passenger Innovations designs, manufactures, and integrates the RAVE in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFE&C) system for commercial and business aviation. The RAVE platform integrates with aircraft cabin systems to deliver passenger entertainment, connectivity, and (via a partnership with Skyted) silent voice communication capabilities that enable confidential in-flight calls without disturbing other passengers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RAVE: In-flight entertainment and connectivity systems platform operated by Safran Passenger Innovations prior to rebranding as RAVE Aerospace
Products and services
- RAVE In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity System
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 300 passengers can make calls simultaneously without disturbing one another
Companies that use Safran Passenger Innovations
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Safran Passenger Innovations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Safran Passenger Innovations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SkytedcoreExclusive agreement to integrate Skyted's silent communication solutions into Safran's RAVE in-flight entertainment and connectivity system. The technology captures voice at its source to ensure conversation confidentiality while maintaining cabin quiet.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Safran Passenger Innovations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Panasonic Avionics: Panasonic Avionics is the global market leader in in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems, directly competing with RAVE Aerospace on seatback IFE, Wi-Fi connectivity, and OEM line-fit programs for major airlines.
- Thales InFlyt Experience: Thales' InFlyt Experience business provides the AVANT IFE platform and connectivity solutions to airlines and OEMs worldwide, directly competing with RAVE on hardware, content, and connectivity offerings.
- Viasat: Viasat is a major provider of in-flight connectivity (ViaSat-3 network) and has expanded into IFEC via its acquisition of Inmarsat, competing with RAVE on Ka-band connectivity for commercial and business aviation.
- Global Eagle Entertainment: Global Eagle supplies inflight connectivity, content, and digital media solutions to airlines, historically a direct competitor in IFEC services and now part of the post-restructuring connectivity landscape.
- Gogo Business Aviation: Gogo provides in-flight connectivity solutions primarily for business aviation and regional commercial carriers, competing with RAVE's connectivity offering in the IFEC stack, particularly for North American operators.
- Burrana (formerly digEcor): Burrana provides lightweight, retrofit-focused IFE systems (GLIDE and PAVES) to commercial airlines, directly competing with RAVE particularly on narrowbody and low-cost-carrier retrofit programs.
Broad incumbents
- Collins Aerospace: Collins Aerospace (RTX) supplies avionics, cabin systems, and connectivity to airlines and OEMs, providing overlapping IFE-adjacent capabilities and broader portfolio reach than RAVE's focused IFEC offering.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell's Anthem avionics and JetWave connectivity solutions serve the same airline and OEM buyers as RAVE, competing indirectly as part of Honeywell's broader aerospace systems portfolio.
- Safran Group (parent-era competitors within cabin): Safran Group's cabin and seat businesses (Safran Cabin, Safran Seats) historically housed SPI and overlap in aircraft interior systems; they remain broad incumbents in the same end markets though no longer under common ownership.
Emerging players
- FlightPath3D: FlightPath3D provides 3D moving-map and interactive flight information applications integrated into IFE systems, competing with RAVE on a key in-cabin digital experience layer used by many of the same airlines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Safran Passenger Innovations social profiles
Digital presenceSafran Passenger Innovations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Safran Passenger Innovations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Safran Passenger Innovations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Safran Passenger Innovations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Safran Passenger Innovations
What does Safran Passenger Innovations do?
Safran Passenger Innovations designs, manufactures, and integrates the RAVE in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFE&C) system for commercial and business aviation. The RAVE platform integrates with aircraft cabin systems to deliver passenger entertainment, connectivity, and (via a partnership with Skyted) silent voice communication capabilities that enable confidential in-flight calls without disturbing other passengers.
Is Safran Passenger Innovations a public or private company?
Safran Passenger Innovations is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently acquired.
When was Safran Passenger Innovations founded?
Safran Passenger Innovations was founded in 2005. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Safran Passenger Innovations based?
Safran Passenger Innovations is headquartered in Brea, United States, in the North America region.
How does Safran Passenger Innovations make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. In-Flight Entertainment Systems are the primary driver. The others are technology Integration Services.
Who are Safran Passenger Innovations's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Panasonic Avionics, Thales InFlyt Experience, Viasat, Global Eagle Entertainment, Gogo Business Aviation and Burrana (formerly digEcor). Broad incumbents are Collins Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace and Safran Group (parent-era competitors within cabin). FlightPath3D is listed as an emerging player.
Does Safran Passenger Innovations have an API?
No public API is recorded for Safran Passenger Innovations.
What industry is Safran Passenger Innovations in?
Safran Passenger Innovations's product category is In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAMAB, In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) & Connectivity (IFEC), with a secondary code of THABAMAI, In-Flight Customer Experience, Service Design & Personalization. Its NAICS code is 336413 and its SIC code is 3720.