Panasonic Avionics is less than three months away from offering full integration of its X Series in-flight entertainment (IFE) system with Apple iPod personal electronic devices (PEDs).
The only commercial airline IFE provider to hold a contractual agreement with Apple, Panasonic reveals to Flightglobal that it currently has two customers committed to iPod integration.
The first installation is scheduled for December.
Last year Apple revealed that Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates and United Airlines were prepared to begin offering passengers seat connections to power and charge their iPods during flight.
Allowing passengers to enjoy their own personal entertainment from their in-seat display and have full control via the airline’s IFE system is the next step in Panasonic’s iPod service offering.
This will ensure passengers can “toggle seamlessly” between their personalized entertainment and that of the airline’s offering, says the company.
Although details of specific airline arrangements have not been disclosed, all of the initial phase one customers “are looking to do phase two”, a Panasonic executive recently told ATI at the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) conference and exhibition in Toronto.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
