As reviled yesterday, Panasonic Avionics and United Airlines are to collaborate together, with the airline taking the new Astrova IFE platform.
Mark Muren, Managing Director – Identity, Product, and Loyalty at United Airlines on the announcement – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
With the move, United Airlines will become the first customer o in the Americas for its new Astrova in-flight engagement (IFE) solution, which features 4K OLED technology screens, scaling from 13″ displays up to 42″ units. They also feature high-fidelity 3D spatial audio delivered by Panasonic Avionics’ latest Bluetooth technology.
In addition, if you need to charge your device, the product will support 100 watts of power to seat over USB-C.
United plans to install Astrova on select new Boeing 787 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft beginning in 2025.
This agreement builds upon the airline’s previous commitment in 2021 to install Panasonic Avionics’ X Series and NEXT IFE systems on both widebody and narrowbody aircraft.
With this latest agreement around Astrova, United’s program represents the largest-ever investment in Panasonic Avionics’ IFE by any airline.
Collectively, these agreements cover both line-fit and retrofit installations across United’s fleet and are part of United Next, which is enhancing the passenger experience on narrowbody aircraft flown in domestic and short-haul international markets. The United Next program includes seatback entertainment screens at every seat — first class has 13-inch monitors, while the economy has 10-inch monitors, larger overhead bins, high-speed Wi-Fi, USB outlets at every seat, Bluetooth audio connections for in-flight entertainment, and LED lighting throughout the cabin.
In Quotes
Mark Muren, Managing Director – Identity, Product, and Loyalty at United Airlines and Ken Sain, CEO of Panasonic Avionics Corporation with the Astrova screens – Image, Panasonic.
Mark Muren, Managing Director – Identity, Product, and Loyalty at United Airlines, says:
“Our customers tell us that they want to be engaged, entertained and productive in the air. Our new partnership with Panasonic Avionics will make that possible and enable us to set a new standard of in-flight excellence as a key part of United Next. Together United and Panasonic will drive new standards of engagement when customers come onboard a United aircraft.”
Ken Sain, CEO of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, says: “Our partnership with United Airlines reflects our shared vision to take the passenger engagement to a whole new level.
“We are confident that Astrova will connect passengers to United more effectively than any other IFE solution, and we will continue to optimize passenger engagement with a cabin experience that keeps pace with innovation in the consumer technology space. Panasonic Avionics will perpetually update the passenger experience, introducing new products that bring enormous value and a major competitive advantage to United Airlines.”
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