Dutch airline KLM is providing the experience of virtual strolls through their aircraft, free of charge. It has been gathering footage for some time now and has every airplane model on its fleet available for viewing.
Photographs using a 360° camera were compiled and stitched together by VR specialist Chris Koomen, from KLM’s Digital Studio. The result is a seamless glimpse of the inside of every compartment of each aircraft.
Potential customers can see cabins, the seating of every class, and even the flight cockpit where the pilot sits! The experience currently applies to the company’s smallest jet, the Embraer 175 and Cityhopper aircraft, through its A330s, B737s, B777s, B747s, B787 Dreamliners, and even its newest B787-10s. In all, there are 14 VR tours to check out, each covering different configurations and variants.
KLM explained in a recent blog that the service was initially intended for its staff, but then they made it open to the public. The initial purpose of the “successful experiment” was to enable cleaning crew and airline stewardess to familiarize themselves with the aircraft before getting to work so they could do their job quicker and better.
Koomen said:
We wanted to familiarise cleaners with an aircraft – the B787 – before its first flight to Minneapolis. They were set to come in the evening to clean the aircraft after its arrival but had not yet seen this type from the inside. We knew that it would take a lot of extra time. And we, therefore, came up with a solution. The members of the cleaning crew had an opportunity during the day of taking a virtual tour on an iPad, using a VR headset so they would be well prepared when arriving to clean the aircraft in the evening.
It was an experiment, but one that instantly booked success. Incredible! They finished cleaning fifteen minutes early, and on top of that, they didn’t make a single mistake. Top and front views – that’s what they had to make do with. They’re going to be better prepared now.
If you’d like to take a tour and see places onboard where you don’t get to go to as a passenger – such as the gallery, the cockpit, and maybe business class – here’s a link to each of the virtual KLM aircraft:
