Apparently Thomas Cook Airlines will soon be removing existing in-flight entertainment systems for the majority of its planes. However, people should not worry, as they will be replacing these systems with hand held Playstation Portables, also known as the PSP. To use these systems, passengers will be charged £7.50. They will also be offered on all short- and medium-haul flights. The systems will come preloaded with eight feature films and a selection of television programs and video games.

Mr Derbyshire, who is the Thomas Cook chief executive officer, said that just one out of every ten passengers watch the airline’s in-flight entertainment. Thus, the airline wants to replace this system with something that could prove to be more useful.

Thomas Cook’s decision to replace the in-flight entertainment systems with PSP’s is a trend that is starting to catch on around the world. In fact, other airlines have made very similar moves. Such airlines include easyJet and the United States-based Frontier Airlines.

Of course, other experts point out another growing trend that this new feature also continues. This is the trend of airlines attempting to increase their ancillary revenues rather than raising the price of their airline tickets. Now, consumers that choose to do so, can spend extra money on renting a PSP. However, those that do not will not have any in-flight entertainment.

Research that was just recently done by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, found out last month that United State carriers have increased their extra charges by 42 percent since 2008. This is a pretty massive jump in terms of extra charges.