In-flight television and e-mail/ internet start-up AirTV will equip the first aircraft of launch customer Saudi Arabian Airlines for its initial services in December. AirTV president John Larkin concedes, however, that the company has only 33% of its required funding and needs a further $1 billion to launch its four satellite system to deliver global live television services.
AirTV initially plans to offer e-mail/internet services via the Inmarsat satellite system and service provider Sita. One Saudi Arabian Boeing 747-400 will be equipped in December, with Alitalia to equip a Boeing 767-300ER around the same time for a three-month trial. Saudi Arabian and Alitalia plan to test the services ahead of fleet equipage decisions, says AirTV.
AirTV, partners in which include Alcatel Space, Arianespace and CMC, needs around 45% of its funding in place by the middle of next year to allow satellite manufacture to start, says Larkin. The S-band satellites will be manufactured by struggling manufacturer Alcatel, which is also investing in the venture, and are due to be launched by Arianespace from late 2004. The full constellation is due to be completed in 2005 to provide global television service with up to 60 channels.
Larkin claims that despite Alcatel's problems - it announced late last month it was laying off 400 employees and converting its Valence site in France to other work - it remains committed to the venture. AirTV says that it is "close to a launch airline in Asia".
Thales Avionics In-Flight Systems' decision to sell its LiveTV joint venture with Harris to its launch customer JetBlue Airways was prompted by Thales' wish to sell its in-flight entertainment systems in the narrowbody market, says LiveTV president Clark Snyder. LiveTV had exclusive rights to market its live television services to the narrowbody market. Thales is targeting its new iSeries hardware for narrowbodies and widebodies.Source: Flight International
