Panasonic Avionics will soon be delivering the Inmarsat GX connectivity solution for airline customers. But not this week. The global inflight entertainment and connectivity powerhouse announced two deals today at the APEX EXPO conference in Boston, each selecting the company’s embedded IFE screen solutions as well as the Ku-band global connectivity platform. EgyptAir will install the kit on its fleet of A320neo aircraft due starting in 2020. Uzbekistan Airways will see its first PAC kit installed in January 2019.
Uzbekistan Airways
The Uzbek deal covers the carrier’s three existing 787-8 aircraft as well as two A320neos due from Airbus early next year. Passengers will experience a personalized, home theatre experience, with HD screens and high power USB charging facilities at every seat, audio and video entertainment on demand, capacitive multi-touch screens all working in conjunction with a range of applications including inflight retail features.
Passengers on the 787s will also be able to use their mobile phones through PAC’s AeroMobile subsidiary and access live television feeds on board.
EgyptAir
The EgyptAir deal covers fifteen new A320neo aircraft due for delivery starting in 2020. Those passengers will enjoy -inch HD personal screens in Business Class complete with a video handset and high-power charging facilities at every seat. In Economy Class, each passenger will have a 10-inch HD screen incorporating a USB power point, with charging facilities at each seat group.
This deal also includes OneMedia – Panasonic’s advertising platform. The OneMedia solution enables targeted onboard advertising campaigns by categories including seat class, flight destination, origin city, content categories, and languages.
Given the pace at which such deals are negotiated it is no surprise that both airlines selected the Ku-band solution rather than GX through the new partnership. That the InmarPAC deal still has many, many details to be worked out means that we could still see other, future Panasonic Ku sales before the sales transition is complete.
More from APEX EXPO 2018
- EXPO Preview: What’s on tap this week
- Airconnect Go set to stream on Canadian North Airlines this winter
- Aeromexico confirms Viasat connectivity on MAX fleet
- Alaska Airlines adds SkyLights’ VR headsets to IFE lineup
- New livery, free drinks, free wifi coming to Aer Lingus in 2019
- PAC picks up an IFEC a pair
- Ka-band inflight connectivity to take flight in China
- Air France Connect brings inflight wifi live on board
- Another tiny lavatory preps for flight on American Airlines
- PaxEx Premium: Digging deeper on the Inmarsat/Panasonic strategic partnership
- Now boarding: Bluetooth audio connections
- PaxEx Premium: Does Spirit have a secret for selling wifi?
- Finnair ends free trial, rolls out wifi charges
- Bringing IoT to flight: Sensors, alerts, payments and more from APEX EXPO 2018
- PaxEx Premium: LEO connectivity testing reaches new heights
- PaxEx Premium: A LEO milestone for Global Eagle, Telesat
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