Hit movies and TV shows, popular music, and fun video games – hundreds of choices and all at your seat.
That is the future of inflight entertainment for Hawaiian Airlines, a future that begins next year with the arrival of Hawaiian’s first Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Hawaiian is partnering with Panasonic Avionics to install state-of-the-art eX2 entertainment systems in each seatback of 10 new A330s that will initiate the next phase of Hawaiian’s service for Hawaii.
Glenn Taniguchi, Hawaiian’s senior vice president of marketing and sales, said, “Hawaiian is making a quantum leap forward in entertainment with this cutting-edge, easy-to-use system. Our customers will be thrilled with the high quality and range of offerings they can enjoy on our flights.”
Each seatback will be installed with a high-definition LCD touchscreen monitor that will provide customers with the ability to match their individual entertainment tastes to a diverse selection featuring hundreds of video and audio programs, and video games. Each system will also include a USB port allowing customers to utilize their own media players, while first class seats will also be equipped with a larger monitor and iPOD compatibility.
“Hawaiian Airlines is widely recognized for the high quality of their service, and the introduction of our eX2 system in their new jets is going to deepen that reputation,” said Paul Margis, CEO of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “The advanced functionality and extensive content options that come with the eX2 system will transform the way Hawaiian’s passengers stay entertained in the air.”
The personalized, interactive system is the most significant enhancement that Hawaiian has ever made in inflight entertainment and complements the company’s long-term plan to expand and improve its service for a new generation of travelers. Hawaiian’s wide-body, twin-aisle Airbus A330 aircraft will have an operating range of 6,050 nautical miles, giving Hawaiian the ability to fly nonstop to all of North America and points in eastern Asia. The A330 seats 294 passengers in a two-class configuration and offers the benefits of increased seating capacity coupled with improved fuel efficiency.
Hawaiian is leasing three A330s, the first two jets of which will join the fleet in 2010 with the third being introduced in 2011.
In addition, Hawaiian has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus to acquire six A330-200 aircraft and six A350XWB-800 (Extra Wide-Body) aircraft direct from the manufacturer, with purchase rights for an additional six A330-200s and six A350XWB-800s. The first deliveries of A330s under this purchase agreement will join the fleet in 2012, with the A350s scheduled for delivery starting in 2017.
About Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for four consecutive years (2004-2007) and in fewest misplaced bags for three straight years (2005-2007) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian as the top domestic airline serving Hawaii.
Now in its 80th year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the state’s biggest and longestserving airline, as well as the second largest provider of passenger air service between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 155 daily jet flights among the Hawaiian Islands.
