Qatar Airways aims to offer Live Onboard Television by end 2005

Qatar Airways is to install live onboard satellite television as part of a US$100 million agreement with German company Lufthansa Technik.

The airline plans to introduce the new feature on its long-haul fleet of Airbus A330s by the end of the year.

The US$100 million agreement also includes engine maintenance and overhaul of the airline’s Airbus A320 family of short-haul aircraft over the next 10 years.

Lufthansa Technik will install Rockwell Collins’ Tailwind 560 product for onboard live satellite television on the airline’s fleet of 15 A330s. Passengers will be able to watch live TV from selected networks.

Qatar Airways’ entertainment system onboard its widebody A330 fleet is fully interactive offering Audio Video On Demand which gives passengers greater viewing and listening options.

The stop, pause, rewind and forward functions provide greater flexibility allowing passengers to view movies and TV programmes from around the world at the time of their choice on their personal entertainment system.

Qatar Airways offers personal TV screens across all three cabins, Economy, Business and First Class, on its A330s with individual LCD TV screens for every passenger.

At 15 inches, Qatar Airways’ First Class and Business Class personal TV screens are among the largest in the Middle East, as are the Economy cabin’s 9-inch screens.

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