Emirates Airline, the largest airline and one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, has announced plans to enter the metaverse and the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with exciting projects to come in the next months.
“Dubai and the UAE are blazing the way in the digital economy, having a clear vision supported by practical policies and regulatory frameworks in areas such as virtual assets, artificial intelligence, and data protection,” said Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates airline and Group.
The company’s intentions do not end there. Emirates has stated that their Expo 2020 pavilion will be transformed into an innovation center, drawing talent from all over the world “to bring to life the airline’s future-focused projects, including those relating to the metaverse, NFTs, and Web3.”
We will soon launch NFTs and exciting experiences in the metaverse, as we repurpose The Emirates Pavilion from Expo 2020 Dubai into our new centre for innovation. https://t.co/A54ryw0Tos pic.twitter.com/faGTZbYmV3
— Emirates Airline (@emirates) April 14, 2022
More than 5 years ago, Emirates pioneered online virtual reality (VR) technology on emirates.com and its Emirates app, providing an immersive 3D, 360-degree view of its cabin interior experiences aboard.
A 3D seat map allows customers to view their seats before checking in online, and it also enables potential customers to reserve their favorite seats within the 3D environment. The award-winning technology works on all devices and does not require any additional plug-ins or software.
Last year, it launched its own VR software on the Oculus store, offering consumers life-size, interactive cabin interior experiences onboard the airline’s flagship A380 and Boeing 777-300ER Gamechanger aircraft. Users can, for example, “pick up” items from the Onboard Lounge, “switch on” the Shower Spa, or “shut” the private suite doors behind them.
