Emirates to spend US$350m on inflight...

Better screen quality and sound is expected in 2024

As part of its continued drive to ensure customers ‘Fly Better’, Emirates has selected the new Thales’ AVANT Up system for its incoming fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2024.

The airline’s investment of more than US$350 million will see its 50-strong fleet of A350s equipped with next-generation inflight entertainment solutions.

The technology in Thales’ AVANT Up system features Optiq 4k QLED HDR displays, the only aircraft displays using Samsung’s QLED technology to immerse viewers in more than a billion colours.

The new system from Thales will also provide an enhanced ‘live’ television solution that offers a broader choice of live TV and news in the highest available definition at 40,000 feet.

In addition, passengers can also look forward to enhanced connectivity with Optiq - the first smart display in the industry to offer two Bluetooth connections, built-in Wi-Fi to pair multiple devices including phones, tablets, headphones or even game controllers, while supporting an up to 60 watts USB-C to fast-charge personal devices.

Commenting on the news, Emirates, chief operating officer Adel al Redha said: “Emirates has always regarded inflight entertainment as an essential aspect of our onboard experience, and we were the first airline to put personal screens onto every single seat onboard when that was far from the norm over 30 years ago. Today, Emirates ICE remains unmatched in inflight entertainment content and experience, having won best-in-the-sky awards consecutively for the past 14 years. Our investment in next-generation Thales systems for our new A350 fleet will further our lead, enabling us to deliver even better experiences to our customers.”

Thales Avionics executive vice-president Yannick Assouad added: “At Thales we are proud to partner with Emirates in their mission to 'Fly Better'. Thales’ AVANT Up brings to Emirates the latest consumer technologies and capabilities to the aircraft. Combining our Optiq 4K QLED HDR displays, award-winning dynamic power, and next generation digital services, Emirates customers can expect the extraordinary.”

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Reflecting a shared vision to innovate and shape future inflight experiences, Emirates and Thales are also collaborating on programmes through Dubai’s Aviation X-Lab, an aviation-specific incubator.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com