Summary
- Air Canada selects Panasonic’s Astrova IFE for 80+ latest aircraft to boost passenger experience from 2025.
- Panasonic’s 4K OLED HDR10+ screens and USB-C charging provide cinema-quality visuals and device compatibility.
- Astrova’s modular design allows for straightforward upgrades and enhancements over time, ensuring a dynamic entertainment experience.
Air Canada has signed an agreement with Panasonic Avionics to equip 80+ of its latest aircraft with the latter’s Astrova in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The answer – featuring 4K OLED HDR10+ screens – might be fitted to the Canadian carrier’s incoming Boeing 787-10, Airbus A220-300 and A321XLR aircraft, together with a retrofit on its A321 fleet.
Air Canada chooses Panasonic IFE for brand new fleet
The airline will line fit Panasonic’s Astrova IFE product to its incoming aircraft, that are resulting from arrive from 2025 onwards. Astrova’s features and functionality include:
- 4K OLED HDR10+ screens
- Panasonic Avionics’ latest IFE software platform
- Bluetooth connectivity for private headphones
- 100W DC charging with USB-C connectivity
Photo: Panasonic Avionics
Panasonic touts Astrova as the primary IFE product to supply 4K OLED technology, resulting in crisper and clearer “cinema-grade” visuals. USB-C charging is important for anyone with devices akin to phones, laptops or tablets, and you’ll be able to even connect your individual headphones while watching.
John Moody, Managing Director Onboard Product of Air Canada, commented,
Air Canada has also prolonged its agreement with Panasonic Avionics’ technical services team (PTS) to keep up the systems over time. United Airlines became the primary Astrova customer within the Americas back in 2021, choosing Panasonic Avionics’ product for its latest 787 and A321XLR fleet arriving next 12 months. Other carriers to decide on Astrova include Saudia as a retrofit on its widebody A330 and 777 fleet, and Icelandair for its A321LR fleet.
![WiFi On Plane-1](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/wifi-on-plane-1.jpeg)
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Modular design
Astrova is designed with a modular architecture, which allows for quicker upgrades and changes over the product’s lifecycle. This can enable Air Canada to develop and implement latest applications far more efficiently, allowing for a more dynamic and adaptive entertainment experience because the years progress.
Photo: Panasonic Avionics
Hernan Abbes, Vice President of Global Sales at Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said,
The corporate cites its patented removable peripheral bar, which may easily be customized for alternative functionality, akin to an additional charging slot or future technologies.
Aircraft arriving from 2025
With the A321XLR on track to begin arriving at Air Canada in 2025 and the 787-10 touted for Q4 2025 deliveries, passengers will have the ability to enjoy this latest IFE solution fairly soon.
Photo: Airbus
The airline has not confirmed how long the retrofit rollout would take for its A321 fleet. It currently operates 16 A321-200s with a mean age of around 20 years old.