Cathay Pacific Selects Panasonic IFE

Panasonic Avionics said Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific Airways will use its in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on the airline’s long-haul fleet of Boeing 747-400s, Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A330s and A340s. Panasonic, Lake Forest, Calif., said the airline chose its eX2 IFE system to power its IFE suite known as StudioCX, which has 50 on-demand movies, more than 100 television programs and a selection of audio programs. Also, Cathay Pacific will install 17-inch and 15-inch LCD displays, respectively, in the first and business class seats for the system. Cathay Pacific also signed a multi-year maintenance contract with Panasonic to support operations of the eX2-equipped aircraft. The agreement requires Panasonic to provide on-aircraft labor, logistics, spares, repairs and media loading. Also, this week, Panasonic Avionics said China Southern Airlines selected its eX2 system for 10 of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, slated for delivery in 2008.