Qatar Airways has confirmed the selection of the new Thales TopSeries AVANT™ system for its fleet of 80 A350 aircraft. The next generation Thales system combines the strengths of earlier platforms with advanced
technologies, such as high definition video, solid state hard drives and faster processors, to deliver an enhanced passenger experience never seen before. The first A350 is scheduled for delivery in Q3, 2013.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the in-flight offering on the airline’s A350 fleet will be a step beyond what is currently available in the sky.
“Qatar Airways is proud to be at the forefront of adopting the latest technologies available in the aviation industry. Our A350 aircraft will be equipped with the industry’s leading in-flight entertainment technology, and we look forward to showcasing to our passengers just why we continue to receive awards and accolades for our in-flight products,” he said.
The Doha-based carrier, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, will provide a comprehensive selection of entertainment programmes accessed through passenger touch screen displays ranging in size from 10.6 inch to 17 inches. Passengers will also be able to interface their personal electronic devices to the system allowing them to enjoy their own content through the in-seat screen. The TopSeries AVANT system will also feature 3D audio giving the effect of high fidelity surround sound. Thales is working closely with Airbus’ A350 programme team to get its’ TopConnect Ka-Band solution offerable on the A350 XWB aircraft.
Qatar Airways has also selected the new, award winning Thales Touch Passenger Media Unit, a revolutionary handheld media device introduced in 2010 by Qatar Airways and Thales.