Page 18 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016 Online Magazine

FeatuRe IFE MRO

Connected to the Future

The need for a connected in-flight experience is driving growth in IFE
By Atul Chandra

WiReLess ConneCtiVity is RaPiDLy Finnair, which had announced in 2015 charge Nordic Sky portal,” says Piia Karhu,
emerging as a preferred addition and a key that it would soon offer wireless network SVP, Customer Experience Development.
differentiator, along with state-of-the-art in- connectivity across the majority of its wide Ku band satellite technology, will be used to
cabin In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) for many and narrow-body aircraft fleet, said in August deliver a working global network connection
of the world’s airlines today. No more a luxury that it would complete the installation of during flights and Panasonic Avionics
in the air, deploying wireless connectivity on Wi-Fi systems on all its aircraft by May 2017. Corporation (PAC Panasonic), has been
First and Business Class cabins is of vital Finnair’s new Airbus A350 XWB jetliners, chosen by the airline to supply the wireless
importance to premium passengers who were the first to make use of in-flight connection. PAC Panasonic already supplies
expect to stay in touch with their work 24/7. wireless connectivity, when they commenced the connection for the A350 fleet.
In-flight wireless connectivity, when married operations at the end of last year. Finnair will Earlier this year, Turkish Airlines awarded
with the IFE on-board premium cabins which begin the installation of Wi-Fi on its long-haul a contract for 44 of its jetliners (B737
are fine-tuned to customer preferences, Airbus A330 aircraft in October this year, and and A320) to be fitted with the “SKYFE”
could be the deciding factor in a customer the installation is estimated to be ready in wireless IFE system, jointly developed
choosing a particular airline over another. May 2017. “In May 2017, our customers will be between Havelsan and Turkish Technic.
State-of-the-art IFE systems and Wi-Fi able to enjoy wireless network connection The airline awarded the contract for two
connectivity are now also the latest trend onboard all of our long-haul fleet. In addition important IFE products: Wireless Inflight
on narrow-body aircraft especially for flights to Internet access, we will have a broad Entertainment System and Tablet Based
lasting over four hours, with even budget offering of inflight entertainment, shopping Inflight Entertainment System to Havelsan
conscious travelers now being swayed by opportunities, real-time news content and and Turkish Technic, who will supply their
availability of in-flight Wi-Fi other additional services in Finnair’s free of SKYFE-W Wireless Inflight Entertainment

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18 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016