Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is planning to offer live in-flight television services, plus e-mail and internet on board its Boeing 747-400s and 777-200s. The move follows its order for Matsushita Avionics Systems' latest interactive in-flight entertainment hardware, the System 3000i.
This will be installed in 32 aircraft from the third quarter of 2004 as part of a 700 million ringgit ($184 million) upgrade, which also includes B/E Aerospace lie-flat seats in first and business class.
While some carriers are already offering or have committed to e-mail/internet services, MAS is one of few to acknowledge plans to offer live television. In-flight live broadcasts are available on a handful of carriers in the USA, but have failed to take off elsewhere.
The AirTV consortium, which includes Alcatel and CMC, is planning a satellite network to provide in-flight live television, but it has struggled to secure financing. Airia, part-owned by Inmarsat, also has long held plans for live news and sports.
Source: Flight International
