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In-flight entertainment & connectivity

State of the art In-Flight Entertainment

State of the art In-Flight Entertainment

All Airbus aircraft, from short-medium range A320 family up to ultra-long range A380, can be fitted with state-of-the-art In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems offering passengers individual screens with audio and video on demand throughout the cabin with access to hundreds of high quality audio and video programmes. 

In addition, passengers can access other services such as satellite live television broadcasts, safety instructions in their own native language, outside live views from landscape cameras, international news or connecting flight information. The integration of the latest generation IFE platforms into the seat preserves passengers’ legroom and also gives them the ability to connect their own Personal Electronic Devices, such as a portable media player or digital camera, to the screen in their seat. 

Not only can they recharge their devices, but can complement the airline’s entertainment offer with their own content, whilst benefiting from the high audio quality headsets and viewing comfort of the larger screens available onboard.

In-Flight Connectivity, a generation beyond

To respond to the growing market demand for on-board connectivity, Airbus has developed an aircraft connectivity ‘platform’ that delivers the full breadth of new connectivity services and that is a generation beyond any other available system.

Airbus pioneered connectivity and was the first manufacturer to receive certification for its on-board mobile phone system in June 2007. Since spring 2010, Airbus operators have been able to offer worldwide broadband connectivity services via internet and mobile telephony. The Airbus platform is the first connectivity solution available as line fit on Airbus aircraft and can be retrofitted to Airbus and other manufacturers’ aircraft.

Thanks to this, passengers can use their own wireless communication devices such as mobile telephones, smart phones, blackberry-type phones, laptops or netbooks to make and receive phone calls, send and receive SMS messages, e-mails with their attachments, or access the internet. Cabin crew can easily manage the service and have the option of selecting a “voice-off” mode to restrict cell-phone usage to data services only (SMS, email, mobile internet). Passengers’ feedback shows the service is a tremendous success, further consolidated by the very rapidly expanding market base of the Airbus connectivity solution retained by two thirds of airlines having made a connectivity choice.

The scope of connectivity applications enables airlines to reach passengers personally in flight and to generate ancillary revenues. Thanks to its unique communication management, it also serves airline administrative and operational communications, as illustrated by crew mail, telemedicine, credit card authentication, on board rescheduling of traveller flight correspondences, with more applications to come…

OnAir, a joint venture established by Airbus and SITA, is the preferred Airbus Service Provider, offering a one-stop shop for the airline to establish service agreements with ground operators, obtain the necessary authorizations from telecommunication regulatory bodies, and provide all possible services. OnAir leverages the latest constellation of Inmarsat 4 satellites which deliver worldwide Swift BroadBand connectivity to the widely operated aircraft L band satcom.