American picks Thales AVANT for 787-9 and A321XLR
American Airlines, has selected Thales’ latest AVANT inflight entertainment (IFE) solution to equip its new A321XLR and 787-9 aircraft for transcontinental and international travel.
American’s aircraft will be the launch customer flying with Thales’ new line of Optiq displays and 4K high dynamic range (HDR) seatback screens enhanced with Samsung QLED proprietary technology. The system is capable of Bluetooth connection at each seat, which allows passengers to pair their wireless headphones to the system.
Premium Class seats will have 17-inch displays accompanied with a five-inch touchscreen handset offering a second-screen experience. Premium Economy will have 13.3 inch displays and and Economy Class will feature 11.6-inch displays.
AVANT will be integrated with American’s high-speed connectivity system to provide digital services and real-time health monitoring and reporting. American has also selected Thales’ high-power charging solutions, which will give passengers access to both USB type C 60-watt and AC outlets at each seat in all classes.
The airline’s A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft are anticipated to enter service in 2023.
"American Airlines has trusted Thales as an inflight entertainment supplier for more than a decade and now to equip its new A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft with the latest AVANT IFE solution," said Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice President Avionics in today's announcement. "As travelers begins to recover, Thales continues to invest in digital innovations that create value for our customers. We're truly excited to provide these solutions to American and its customers."
