LiveTV enters European market with Air One deal
Inflight entertainment (IFE) manufacturer LiveTV has won a contract to supply seat-back audio/video systems for Italian carrier Air One’s 30 new Airbus A320s, marking the JetBlue Airways subsidiary’s entry into the European market.
The deal calls for LiveTV to provide equipment to support multi-channel audio and video programming. On-board digital servers will store video content, and a wireless data link will be installed on all aircraft, enabling fast content uploads and data exchange between ground stations and the aircraft.
LiveTV will also offer Air One support and content management services.
Significantly, Air One’s service will not include live television, such as which is currently offered by JetBlue and other North American operators.
“This is not a satellite TV product. Air One has purchased a system that will provide every customer with four channels of video and 20 channels of audio on their own seat-back display,” says a JetBlue spokesman.
Installations of the IFE systems will begin in the fourth quarter, and cover Air One’s initial 30-aircraft order. The Italian operator also has the option to install the LiveTV system on future A320 deliveries.
“Throughout Air One’s history the company has been at the forefront of customer service,” says the carrier’s technical director Pietro Pascale in a statement.
“We continue this tradition with the introduction of multi-channel in-seat audio/video systems on our new aircraft. Our choice of the LiveTV system provides Air One an industry leading in-seat system for the price of a conventional overhead video system, with an upgrade path for the future.”
Adds LiveTV president Glenn Latta: “Air One is one of the most innovative European carriers, and we are delighted that they will be our launch customer in Europe.
“It proves that the LiveTV in-seat audio/video system has made conventional overhead video systems obsolete. In-seat systems will become the new standard for inflight entertainment on single aisle aircraft.”
Air One in January announced its first deal for Airbus aircraft, placing firm orders for 30 A320s. The CFM International CFM56-powered jets will be configured in a two-class, 159-seat layout, and will gradually replace its 29-strong fleet of Boeing 737s.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news