A low-cost Singaporean airline has begun offering passengers iPads as an alternative to traditional in-flight entertainment. The bold move has allowed the airline to slash costs while improving passengers’ experience while on board.

Scoot Pte is a new startup airline which had its maiden flight yesterday, on it passengers were offered the use of iPads for the duration of the flight. The new in-flight entertainment systems came as a result of cost-cutting which found that massive savings could be made if traditional entertainment systems, weighing two tons were removed. It also allowed them to accommodate 40% more passengers per flight while still enjoying a seven percent reduction in weight.

Fuel makes up 40% of the costs for any airline and have increased 36% in just the last two years. By reducing the overall weight of the loaded aircraft great savings can be made.

“[iPads are] a very smart move,” said Corrine Png, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s Singapore-based head of regional transportation research. “If they can make the aircraft lighter, it does help improve fuel efficiency.”

The airline will offer the use of iPads for a flight to Business Class travellers free of charge while Economy Class passengers will have to hand over $17 (R144). The iPads will come loaded with movies, games and music but in the future they intend to offer passengers WiFi connectivity to a system.

Currently the humble fleet operates exclusively out of Singapore, offering aggressively competitive prices for flights.

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[Source: Cult of Mac, Bloomberg]