Six airlines to offer iPod set connections
Reports from the US say that as early as next year, Continental Airlines will begin offering some international passengers iPod seat connections to power, charge and view videos stored on their iPods during flights.
Houston-based Continental, which many Aussies do not realise flies regularly into Cairns via Guam, says it is working with Apple, which announced today that it is teaming up with six airlines to offer new options on their in-flight entertainment systems.
The other airlines are Delta, United, Air France, Emirates and KLM.
Continental said the new function is expected to be deployed on “selected types of long-haul international aircraft” that either already have or are getting individual seat-back monitors.
Continental said special hardware needs to be integrated into the seat for the iPod connection. That will be done when the aircraft go into the hangar for larger entertainment electronics upgrade projects.
The purpose of the changes is to give customers more control of their entertainment options on board aircraft, the carrier said.
In addition to powering and charging iPods, the iPod seat connections will allow the videos on their iPods to be viewed on seat back displays, according to Apple.
Continental spokesman Dave Messing said while no definitive timeline has been set for installation and deployment, “it is conceivable that installations could begin before the end of 2007.”
Apple said the in-flight iPod connectivity will be available to the six airlines beginning in mid 2007. It also said it is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring iPod connectivity to more airlines.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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