In-flightEntertainment
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Cathay Pacific bringing 50Mbps WiFi, live TV and in-flight calling to fleet
Mmm... we like where this is headed. While legacy airlines in America are struggling to outfit their fleets with in-flight WiFi alone, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways is showing 'em how it's done. The airline has just inked a memorandum of understanding with Panasonic Avionics for the "provision of full broadband connectivity on all Cathay Pacific and Dragonair passenger aircraft." Yeah, you read that correctly -- by early 2012, Cathay will make 50Mbps internet service, in-flight GSM cellphone service (voice, SMS and data) as well as live and pay-per-view television available to every last passenger. The finer details are still being hammered out, and we aren't told whether every single bird in its fleet will be online from Day 1, but we're still as giddy as ever for this to become a reality. Here's hoping this pushes those other airlines into getting with the program, and at the very least, it ought to give you plenty of reason to take that Asian vacation you've been putting off.
Jetstar Airways first to rent out iPads, only $8.40 a flight
The world's first iPad inflight entertainment system definitely came sooner than we thought; though Bluebox just announced the idea two weeks ago, it's slated to hit Australia at the end of the month. Qantas budget carrier Jetstar Airways will hold a trial of the service in the last two weeks of June, doling out iPads to passengers on flights 90 minutes or greater for AUD $10 (approximately $8.40) a pop, and will extend the service to their entire network if the business... well, you know. Since Jetstar CIO Stephen Tame famously predicted the iPad would kill the inflight movie business earlier this year, it seems we're looking at a classic case of if-you-can't-beat-em syndrome. Call us biased, but that sounds a good sight better than what Microsoft's up to.
iPad takes to the skies with Bluebox Ai this July
In-flight entertainment might not be high on everyone's list of priorities, but from this July, it might become a new point of differentiation between airlines. Bluebox Avionics has announced its new Ai IFE system, which seems to mostly involve just giving travelers an iPad to play around with while gliding through the atmosphere. It "leverages the power, flexibility and quality of the most advanced consumer device ever produced" (they have an Evo 4G? Zing!) and offers Bluebox's proprietary security solution and tailor-made apps for each airline. One international carrier has already signed up and more are expected to follow.
JetBlue's LiveTV unit to snatch up Verizon's Airfone network
Nary a week after JetBlue expanded its in-flight internet services on BetaBlue comes news that the airline's LiveTV unit will be picking up Verizon's Airfone network. As you can glean, the purchase is being made in order to further "develop in-flight email and internet services," and while no purchase price was disclosed by either outfit, we are told that LiveTV will receive "100 air-to-ground US communications towers and Airfone's corporate and government aviation clients on January 1st." That's nice and all, but can't we get something out of this sooner?
United offers up LCDs, in-flight entertainment servers on recent flight
It's not like adding in a few LCDs and a swank entertainment system is groundbreaking in the airline industry, but it's still far from commonplace. Earlier this week, United Airlines Flight 952 departed from Washington Dulles and treated its passengers to an impressive array of luxuries. Beyond the elaborate meals and lie-flat beds, fliers were able to kick back and enjoy over 150-hours of on-demand entertainment from a personal 15.4-inch LCD; additionally, economy class customers even had access to (presumably smaller) displays and a digital in-flight entertainment server. Gene Fowler, who spends more time on United flights than most of us would care to imagine, was able to capture the inaugural flight to Frankfurt with a bevy of snapshots, so be sure and hit the link below if you're curious to see what you missed.[Via FlyerTalk]Read - United Flight 952Read - Gene Fowler's photo gallery
Lufthansa to add in-flight broadband by 2008 for long-hauls
Lufthansa is apparently continuing the airborne scramble to get customers connected, announcing that with the help of T-Mobile it will be reinstating its broadband service (formerly from Connexion) to its long-haul flights by 2008. While other airlines throughout Europe are racing to offer in-flight calling for shorter trips, Lufthansa says that "the vast majority told us they don't want this feature," which makes sense, since no one likes a loud-talker in an enclosed space. Instead, the Cologne-based company is rolling out a service which will allow broadband connections for laptops, text-messaging on phones, and wireless email (and data, we assume) on hand-helds, similar to recent offerings we've seen from other carriers. Of course, Lufthansa's passengers could still be annoyed by chatter if someone gets clever and decides to rock Skype on a trans-atlantic trip -- unless the airline has plans for blocking VoIP. Only they know for sure.
Laptop power, in-flight internet coming to Qantas
Those already giddy about their 2008 trip to Down Under should now pick up the phone and do whatever it takes to get on one of Qantas' forthcoming A380s or revamped 747-400s, as both planes will reportedly feature in-flight WiFi and laptop power. As if that weren't enough, the new A380s will even dole out power sockets to those in economy class, and while the in-flight entertainment system may be preferred by your offspring, we know you'll greatly appreciate the internet access and seat-mounted USB / Ethernet ports. Currently, Qantas has yet to divulge exactly how much these luxuries will run you per flight, and while there's still a few months remaining before any passengers are faced with such comforts while flying Qantas, we can't help but yearn for a first-class ticket complete with a 17-inch widescreen LCD. Hit the read link for a few more snapshots and the full rundown of extras.
Fly the friendlier sky with your iPod
Apple has teamed up with a handful (if you have a 6-fingered hand) of airlines to offer iPod integration, making your long flight a bit more comfortable. Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United will deliver the first "seamless integration" between the iPod and their own in-flight entertainment systems. These airlines will provide passengers iPod seat connections that will power and charge your iPods in-flight and allow your video content to be viewed on the seat back displays!"There is no better traveling companion than an iPod, and now travelers can power their iPods during flight and even watch their iPod movies and TV shows on their seat back displays," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. "We're excited to work with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to offer iPod users an even better in-flight experience."The in-flight iPod perks will be available starting in mid-2007 and Apple is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future. I hope JetBlue is next in line. I bet Steve Jobs' Gulfstream already has this feature. Thanks for sharing, Steve!Thanks to all who sent this in!
