Beiruting News

To celebrate the 90^th Academy Awards ceremony(the Oscars)and the British Academy Film Awards (the BAFTAs) last month, British Airways has added a collection of award-winning films to a newly-created category in its in-flight entertainment.

Award Worthy, features films which collectively have won 12 Oscars and 12 BAFTAs in this year's awards season, as well as receiving 87 nominations across the two ceremonies. The Award Worthy category is available on British Airways' in-flight entertainment across the majority of the airline's long-haul fleets including flights from the Middle East to London.

Films in the category include The Shape of Water, which led the Oscar nominations with 13 andscooped up four awards including 'Best Picture' at the ceremony on Sunday. This builds on the 12 nominations received at the BAFTAs, and the subsequent three awards it won.

The star performer at the BAFTAs, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is also in the category, having received nine nominations with five awards last month.

British war drama Darkest Hour, featuring a stunning performance from Gary Oldman,has also been added. Oldman picked up the 'Leading Actor' BAFTA, while the film won the award for 'Makeup and Hair'. On Sunday, Oldman was again recognised, winning 'Best Actor', referencing a great British tradition in his speech, telling his mother "put the kettle on - I'm bringing Oscar home".

Beyond this, the category hosts Call Me by Your Name,which won the 'Adapted Screenplay' award at both the BAFTAs and the Oscars and was nominated for four Academy Awards.

Carolina Martinoli, British Airways' director of brand and customer experience, said: "For many of our long-haul customers, being able to watch some of the latest film releases is one of the parts of the flight they most look forward to. That's why we do everything we can to make sure our in-flight entertainment systems are loaded with up-to-date, award-winning content, guaranteed to keep customers entertained."

A number of film classics which performed successfully in previous award seasons will also be added to the channel. These films span a broad range of genres, fromSilver Linings Playbook to the horror-thriller Silence of the Lambs.

Customers who fly with British Airways on long-haul flights have free access to over 1,000 hours of films, top TV shows and audio programmes via their personal seatback screen. The content is updated regularly, with categories often added for major holidays or key calendar events.

These changes to British Airways' in-flight entertainment system are just one of a number of ways that the airline is improving experiences for its long-haul customers. Last month it was announced World Traveller customers will receive a renewed food offering on board including, on longer flights, a full second meal, while in Club World new dining and White Company bedding is being rolled out across the network. These changes come as part of the airline's £4.5 billion investment for customers over the next five years.