SAUDIA DEBUNTS PANASONIC AVIONICS’ ASTROVA, MODULAR INTERACTIVE AND ARC 3D MOVING CARD ON A321XLR | News
Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics), the world’s leading provider of in-flight engagement and connectivity (IFEC) solutions, today announced that its groundbreaking Astrova in-flight engagement (IFE) solution has taken to the skies for the first time on an Airbus A321XLR aircraft operated by Saudia.
The program also marks the first deployment of Panasonic Avionics’ Modular Interactive (MI) platform and Arc™ interactive mapping application in Saudi Arabia, as well as Panasonic Avionics’ broader digital portfolio.
The national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has selected the Astrova IFE solution, MI and Arc for 15 Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The agreement builds on Panasonic Avionics’ long-standing relationship with Saudia, including its previous commitment to equip Astrova on the airline’s 46 single- and twin-aisle aircraft: 15 Airbus A321s, 12 Airbus A330s and 19 Boeing 777s.
Guests onboard Saudia’s Astrova-equipped aircraft will benefit from a fully immersive IFE experience with industry-leading 4K OLED HDR10+ displays, spatial audio powered by Panasonic Avionics’ latest Bluetooth®* technology and intuitive guest engagement capabilities designed to deliver a next-generation inflight experience.
Each seat also features up to 67W of USB-C DC power, allowing for fast charging of mobile phones, tablets, compatible laptops and other personal electronic devices during all phases of flight. Panasonic Avionics’ latest IFE solution also includes programmable LED lighting, allowing Saudia to customize the cabin atmosphere and increase onboard comfort during the journey.
Panasonic Avionics’ MI platform provides Saudia with a highly customizable suite of business tools to expand the branding of the IFE experience while enabling deeper guest engagement. At the heart of the platform is MI Studio, a fully-featured interactive design tool that allows Saudia to quickly implement seasonal updates, promotional campaigns, loyalty experiences and customized content through the seatback interface.
Guests from Saudia will also experience Panasonic Avionics’ Arc 3D moving map application, which combines stunning visuals, dynamic real-time data and immersive storytelling to transform the moving map into a fully interactive onboard experience. Designed to increase engagement throughout the journey, Arc allows airlines to showcase destinations, points of interest and branded content through a highly intuitive interface.
Aziz Koseni, head of sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Panasonic Avionics, said: “We are excited to see our award-winning Astrova solution, MI and Arc deployed for the first time onboard the Airbus A321XLR, and especially with our long-standing customer, Saudia. This latest deployment reflects the airline’s continued investment in delivering a guest experience that aligns with its ambitious growth strategy and vision for the future of travel.”
Hernan Abbes, Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Panasonic Avionics added: “Astrova, MI and Arc are designed to give airlines greater flexibility and to evolve and improve the inflight experience over time. Working together, Saudia and Panasonic Avionics are revolutionizing in-flight engagement by providing guests with an immersive and highly personalized entertainment environment.”
Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, said: “We continue to reimagine the guest journey at Saudia through every detail of the inflight experience. With the introduction of Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova system, modular interactive platform and Arc™ 3D moving map on our A321XLR, we are taking the next step in the evolution of our BEYOND in-flight entertainment experience. This technology enables us to deliver richer stories, greater personalization and a more immersive digital journey to our guests, while supporting Saudia’s broader investment in a more seamless, modern and authentic Saudi travel experience.”
