Qatar Airways today announced it has signed an agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics) for its in-flight entertainment (IFE) solution, Astrova, designed to enhance passenger engagement and drive operational efficiency.
Qatar’s fleet of 40 Boeing 777x is the first aircraft type to feature this industry-leading innovation.
With this agreement, Qatar is the first airline to sign as a launch customer globally.
Astrova, by Panasonic Avionics, demonstrates the company’s new approach to the market by helping airlines achieve a powerful and targeted way of engaging with their passengers through IFE.
By also re-imagining the ownership experience, airlines will benefit from faster on-wing upgrades and maintenance, commonality in media loading, spares and repairs, and significant weight reductions compared to other seat-end architectures.
The selection of Astrova also underscores Qatar Airways’ ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability, and directly addresses both companies’ efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Panasonic Avionics’ newest IFE seat-end solution features a cinema-grade 4K OLED with High Dynamic Range (HDR) experience. With perfect blacks and cinematic colors in its palette, OLED technology is widely regarded as the ultimate in display quality.
With 22-inch screens in Business Class and 13-inch in economy, Qatar’s passengers will immerse themselves in stunning visuals that are even further enhanced with HDR for the absolute best possible home theater experience.
Complementing Astrova’s unsurpassed video performance is Panasonic Avionics’ high-fidelity audio, which will deliver high-definition sound over both traditional wired connections and Panasonic Avionics’ award-winning Bluetooth technology.
The monitor is a singular design featuring gentle curves, soft rounded touchpoints, that invite passengers to engage in Qatar’s entertainment and brand experience.
It also offers programmable LED lighting that enables airlines to optimize the cabin environment to complement various phases of flight with animated sequences synchronized to improve the passenger experience and reduce eye strain.
Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said, “We are pleased that Qatar Airways, one of the premier airlines in the world, has chosen Astrova for its fleet of 777x aircraft.
“Using our IFE innovation, Qatar Airways can leverage the latest consumer innovations to deliver unique passenger experiences to drive higher Net Promotor Scores, enhance passenger engagement, increase revenue, and achieve even greater operational efficiencies through IFE.
“We are very honored to launch this exciting new product and for Qatar to be the first to sign as the launch customer for the 777x aircraft type.”
