Gulf Air selects Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s Global Communications Suite

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain today announced that it has selected Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s (Panasonic) Global Communications Suite for worldwide in-flight broadband connectivity, mobile phone service and live television programming.  

Once the final terms are agreed upon, Panasonic will install its broadband Ku solution eXConnect, eXPhone and the eXTV live television network across the entire Gulf Air Fleet. The retrofitting will be implemented progressively across the airline’s fleet beginning in September 2011 and will take two years to complete.

Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Samer Majali said: “Gulf Air is moving forward with its new strategy of re-fleeting and introducing high quality products and services that bring a new dimension to our customers’ travel experience. It is imperative, therefore, that our fleet, both current and future, is fitted with state-of-the-art entertainment and communications systems.”

Added Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic: “Panasonic is honoured to announce Gulf Air as a customer for our Global Communications Suite; it is obvious that both companies share the same belief that broadband connectivity will fundamentally change IFEC in terms of passenger experience and operational efficiency.”