Per terms of the agreement, the flag carrier of Canada will see Astrova line fit on Air Canada Boeing 787-10, Airbus A220-300 and A321XLR aircraft. Additionally, it will be retrofitted on A321s.
This wide-ranging and diverse fleet commitment from Air Canada marks the first time Astrova will be installed on the Airbus A220.
Upon delivery, Astrova will create an immersive experience through industry-leading 4K OLED HDR10+ screens. Passengers can also experience high-fidelity audio on their own wireless headphones using Panasonic Avionics' Bluetooth® technology*.
For passengers that want to multitask or work on their flights, up to 100 W of DC power via USB-C will be available in all phases of flight to fast charge mobile phones, tablets, compatible laptops, and other personal electronic devices.
Astrova also features a modular design that delivers the scalability, and flexibility needed to keep pace with consumer trends in today's fast-changing market. For example, Astrova's patented removable peripheral bar can be quickly hot swapped to unlock new upgrades and features to services like USB power, Bluetooth® technology, and other standards that may change or evolve over time.
For faster delivery, more efficient maintenance, and higher innovation-to-market velocity of apps and software, Astrova will leverage Panasonic Avionics' new IFE software platform. Its unique design uses a collection of shared system services and utilities, which will allow Air Canada to quickly build, test, and deploy new applications.
To achieve the highest system performance, Air Canada has also extended their agreement with Panasonic Avionics' technical services team (PTS) to maintain these Astrova-equipped aircraft.
Hernan Abbes, Vice President of Global Sales at Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said: "Our long term agreement with Air Canada represents the future of airline IFE programs. With its flexible design and modular approach to upgrades, we are confident that our award-winning Astrova IFE solution will enhance Air Canada's brand and increase passenger engagement for many years to come. We look forward to continued collaboration with Air Canada to perpetually deliver the latest technology to Air Canada throughout the lifetime of its fleet."
John Moody, Managing Director Onboard Product of Air Canada said: "We're very excited to build on our long-term relationship with Panasonic Avionics by selecting Astrova for our next generation cabins. It represents our commitment to delivering the best experience to our customers. Astrova is the best available solution on the market today, and we are proud to make it part of Air Canada's award-winning in-flight entertainment."
