In a significant move to improve the flying experience, Tata Sons-owned Air India has selected Thales’ AVANT Up in-flight entertainment (IFE) solution to enhance in-flight entertainment. This partnership is not only for the new widebody fleet, but Thales will also retrofit its systems in Air India's existing fleet.
Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Air India, said, “Partnering with Thales for AVANT Up in-flight entertainment systems is a step in the direction of our transformation programme. This latest in-flight entertainment technology will allow us to stay at the forefront of aviation technology and will help us provide our passengers with a unique onboard entertainment system.”
Thales will soon start upgrading and retrofitting its systems in Air India's existing fleet of 40 Boeing 777s and 787s. This exercise, expected to commence soon, will continue into 2025. The French company will also install AVANT Up IFE on Air India’s 11 new Airbus and
Boeing aircraft, which are expected to be delivered in 2025.
Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director for India at Thales, said, “India is the fastest-growing aviation market in the world, with huge potential for further growth. We are pleased to support Air India in achieving the ambition of providing a superior customer experience with our advanced AVANT Up in-flight entertainment.”
AVANT Up features Optiq and 4K QLED HDR displays, boasting an interactive 3D map and immersive route-based programming. It also features in-screen USB-A and USB-C high-speed charging ports, two Bluetooth connections, and built-in Wi-Fi. Passengers will also be able to pair their wireless headphones or other devices to the display while charging their phones and laptops.
Yannick Assouad, Executive VP Avionics at Thales, said, "We are very proud to deepen our long-standing partnership with Air India. We are committed to supporting the airline’s transformation by delivering state-of-the-art AVANT Up."
(Edited by : Anand Singha)
