Southwest Airlines Customers will be able to enjoy hundreds of digital books during their flight after the airline signed a deal with ebook specialists Kobo.
Working with Global Eagle Entertainment and Bauer Communications, Kobo will offer full books and extended previews of top titles and new releases from publishers such as Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette.
Customers will be able to use their own WiFi-enabled devices to connect to the plane’s entertainment portal and, if they’ve finished by the time they land, will receive an email from Kobo with information about how to purchase the book in order to continue reading the book at their destination.
“Since day one, we have been driven by the singular goal of making digital reading easier—allowing booklovers to read more wherever and whenever they want,” said Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Content Officer, Rakuten Kobo.
“Working with GEE allows us to take this passion for empowering readers to the skies, making a favorite in-flight pastime easier than ever.”
“We’re very excited to partner with Kobo to provide a unique in-flight digital eBook experience,” added Alexis Steinman, SVP of Digital Products at GEE.
“Reading is one of the most popular forms of entertainment for airline passengers, and GEE’s partnership with a leading eBook platform will provide value both to our customer Southwest, and to its passengers.
