British Airways and Audible take in-flight entertainment to new heights with brand-new audiobook and podcast offerings
The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter
British Airways has teamed up with Audible, a leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, to bring new spoken-word entertainment to the skies for customers to enjoy at 35,000ft.
More than 250 hours of podcasts and audiobooks can now be enjoyed for free across every British Airways long-haul flight through its in-flight entertainment system. A range of bestsellers and new releases spanning action, romance, pop culture and children’s content will be available, with a particular focus on content that showcases British talent, including homegrown authors, actors and stories.
This marks the first time Audible has been available on board a UK airline, giving customers exclusive access to a curated selection of titles such as the brand-new Harry Potter full-cast audio editions, Audible’s adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, The Little Mermaid, Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry’s Definitive Collection and Hot White Heist.
British Airways’ Director of Marketing, Hamish McVey, said: “Spoken-word entertainment has surged in popularity over the past few years, and our collaboration with Audible brings an exciting new chapter to our in‑flight entertainment offering.
“This collaboration introduces millions of customers to endless new content from leading authors and podcasters, with more than a quarter of the collection celebrating exceptional British talent. From gripping fiction and family favourites to wellbeing podcasts, we hope everyone finds something they’ll love during their flight.”
Tom McKenna, Audible’s Global Head of Media, Ops & Business Development, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Audible’s premium audio storytelling to British Airways customers, making it easier than ever for passengers to turn travel time into an enriching audio experience.”
“With a slate of award-winning titles, family favourites, and distinctly British content, we’re continuing to innovate on how listeners experience outstanding spoken word entertainment -whether they’re revisiting a beloved story or discovering their next great listen.”
Customers who are new to Audible can sign up for a free two-month trial, allowing them to continue listening to their favourite titles throughout their holiday and once they’re back at home.
Audiobook listening in the UK continues to surge, rising 31 per cent in 2024*, with fiction seeing a particular increase in interest. Podcast listenership has also been increasing year on year, with an estimated 15.5 million listeners in 2025**, highlighting the growing popularity of audio-based content.
The new partnership forms part of the airline’s investment in the customer experience, adding more than 4,600 titles to its in-flight entertainment since January 2025. Last year, comedy closely followed by action and drama were the airline’s most watched genres.
This follows the airline’s recent partnership with Anuvu, bringing a new era of in-flight entertainment to its screens, offering a more diverse and endless range of content for customers to enjoy this year. Alongside the latest blockbuster hits, customers can look forward to international and independent titles, as well as global content that reflect the destinations and communities the airline flies to.
