Hainan Airlinesr began providing augmented reality glasses for in-flight entertainment

Hainan Airlines began distributing Rokid augmented reality glasses on several routes for in-flight entertainment this week, the tech startup said on Thursday. This is the first time that augmented reality glasses, the technology that allows for the superimposition of digital images on the real world, have been widely used during flights.

Apple's Vision Pro virtual reality headset, which is not yet available in China, has a motion stabilization mode for use on airplanes. Passengers can watch 3D movies, read e-books, and play simple games with the help of glasses instead of using the built-in monitor, CNBC writes.

Apple's Vision Pro virtual reality headset, which is not yet available in China, has a "travel mode" with motion stabilization for use on airplanes. The device allows users to see the real world using what the company calls "spatial computing" technology.

Rokid's agreement with Hainan Airlines is more of a marketing ploy to raise consumer awareness of augmented reality glasses than a major commercial deal, Misa Zhu, founder and CEO of the startup, said in a phone interview with CNBC on Wednesday.

He said that Rokid is in talks with "many airlines" about such a partnership, including at least one major international operator. Zhu said although he was not authorized to disclose details, he expects more announcements over the next few months.

Hainan Airlines is one of the largest air carriers in China that also offers international routes. The company has released a short video to promote its collaboration with Rokid.

According to Zhu, the airline has purchased hundreds of Rokid AR glasses for passengers, who can use them for free on more than 20 flights. Each pair costs just over 3,000 yuan ($420) and weighs 75 grams. For comparison, Apple's Vision Pro costs about $3,500 and weighs between 600 and 650 grams.

Hainan Airlines first tested Rokid's augmented reality glasses on a commercial flight from Shenzhen to Xi'an on Wednesday and plans to use them on many other flights from Thursday, Rokid reports.

The initial trial period is for a month, coinciding with China's week-long Lunar New Year celebration, which officially begins on Saturday, expecting hundreds of millions of locals travelling domestically.

"Airlines are very excited because they can offer more services and it's very competitive," Zhu said in Mandarin, translated by CNBC.

According to him, Rokid is in talks to incorporate AR glasses into other modes of transportation, such as high-speed trains.