Air India to equip 51 of its aircraft with Thales’ AVANT Up In-Flight Entertainment

New Delhi,19th Feb 2024:

Air India has selected Thales’ AVANT Up inflight entertainment (IFE) solution for its 51 aircraft for engaging and memorable guest experiences.

Thales will upgrade and retrofit Air India’s current fleet of 40 Boeing 777’s and 787’s with its state-of-the-art AVANT Up system, starting in 2024 and continuing through 2025. Additionally, Thales will install AVANT Up IFE on Air India’s 11 new Airbus and Boeing aircraft with deliveries to commence in 2025. Thales is proud to build on the enduring relationship with Air India to support the airline’s transformation in redefining the passenger entertainment experience.

AVANT Up offers tremendous possibilities for integrating a wide range of services and applications, such as an interactive 3D map and immersive route-based programming. Thales’ Select User Interface (UI) enhances passenger engagement enabling guests to enjoy the most intuitive user experience to navigate across the rich catalog of entertainment.

Thales’ AVANT Up features Optiq, 4K QLED HDR displays designed to provide the best viewing experience in the air with unrivalled picture quality. Optiq features in-screen USB-A and USB-C high speed charging ports and is the only display with two Bluetooth connections and built-in Wi-Fi. With Optiq passengers can pair their wireless headphone or other devices to the display while also charging their phones and laptops so they can arrive at their destination recharged and relaxed.

“At Thales, we are very proud to deepen our long standing partnership with Air India. ​ We are committed to support the airline’s transformation by delivering state-of-the-art AVANT Up technologies that transcend the ordinary to offer Air India’s customers with world-class inflight experiences celebrating the vibrant culture and colours of India.” Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President Avionics, Thales

“India is the fastest growing aviation market in the world, with huge potential for further growth. This sets the stage for airlines to elevate overall flying experience of passengers. We are pleased to support Air India in achieving the ambition of providing superior customer experience with our advanced AVANT Up inflight entertainment.” Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director for India, Thales.

“Air India is committed to providing a world-class travel experience to its passengers. Partnering with Thales for its top-of-the-class AVANT Up inflight entertainment systems is a step in the direction of our transformation programme. This latest inflight entertainment technology will allow us to stay at the forefront of aviation technology and will help us provide our passengers with a unique onboard entertainment system.” Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

FOREWORD

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Welcome to the latest edition of Aviation World. This is an incredibly significant issue for us, perfectly timed to align with several prominent aviation events unfolding across the globe.

 

Chief among them is the Farnborough International Airshow, taking place from July 20th to 24th, 2026, in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Ranked as one of the world’s premier events for aviation, aerospace, and defense, this year’s airshow arrives at a crucial moment. Against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, Farnborough provides an invaluable platform to engage with global leaders and gain firsthand perspectives on the future of the industry. Inside, you will find our comprehensive curtain-raiser report focusing on the show’s core themes, as well as the highly anticipated static and aerobatic aircraft displays.

 

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  • Pallavi Joshi & Vimal Priya, the leadership powerhouse behind AirFleet Managers &Aviatrics Global
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Each shares a detailed perspective on driving innovation, navigating current market dynamics, and establishing progressive frontiers within their respective sectors.

 

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Aviation World

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