It is the newest IFE seat-end solution that features a cinema-grade 4K OLED with High Dynamic Range (HDR) experience.
Qatar Airways has selected Astrova by Panasonic Avionics, its new seat-end solution, the Astrova screens will provide the passengers of Qatar Airways with an unparalleled cinema-grade 4K OLED experience when using the Oryx One Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system enhancing their journey making Qatar Airways this week’s Airlines of the week.
Qatar Airways signed an agreement with Panasonic Avionics for Astrova, for its 40 Boeing 777x. This Boeing fleet will be the first aircraft to feature this industry-leading innovation and Qatar is undoubtedly the first airline to sign as a launch customer for Astrova.
Astrova – the Name
The name Astrova is derived from a big idea – delivering in-flight experiences that are out of this world, that reach for the stars. Astro means “related to the stars” which conveys entertainment and flight. Strova is derived from “strive”, denoting our commitment and effort devoted to achieving amazing in-flight experiences for our customers and their passengers. Put together, Astrova represents the delivery of that commitment – the delivery of a reinvented flying experience.
What is Astrova?
Astrova is designed to enhance passenger engagement and drive operational efficiency. It will help Airlines like Qatar Airways to achieve a powerful and targeted way of engaging with their passengers through IFE. By also re-imagining the ownership experience, airlines will benefit from faster on-wing upgrades and maintenance, commonality in media loading, spares, and repairs, and significant weight reductions compared to other seat-end architectures. The selection of Astrova also underscores Qatar Airways’ ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability and directly addresses both companies’ efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050
Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said, “The launch of Astrova, by Panasonic Avionics, reflects a transformation in our business, how we develop our products, and how we engage with our customers. Astrova is the first in-flight entertainment solution to truly recognize the untapped potential of seatback IFE and provides airlines with a powerful and targeted way of engaging with their passengers every time they fly.”
Astrova demonstrates a new approach to the market and its mindset in developing products and services to help airlines drive higher net promoter scores (NPS), enhance passenger engagement, increase revenue, and deliver operational efficiencies through IFE and connectivity. It leverages the latest consumer innovations to deliver unique passenger experiences that help carriers achieve their business goals. Several major airlines have selected Astrova, an innovative solution that also can provide easy, modular upgrades to in-cabin technology without full or costly interior changes.
Salient features – Redefining seatback IFE
Panasonic Avionics’ newest IFE seat-end solution features a cinema-grade 4K OLED with High Dynamic Range (HDR) experience. With perfect blacks and cinematic colors in its palette, OLED technology is widely regarded as the ultimate in display quality. With 22-inch screens in Business Class and 13-inch in the economy, Qatar’s passengers will immerse themselves in stunning visuals that are even further enhanced with HDR for the absolute best possible home theater experience.
Complementing Astrova’s unsurpassed video performance is Panasonic Avionics’ high-fidelity audio, which will deliver high-definition sound over both traditional wired connections and Panasonic Avionics’ award-winning Bluetooth technology.
The monitor is a singular design featuring gentle curve and soft rounded touchpoints, that invite passengers to engage in Qatar’s entertainment and brand experience. It also offers programmable LED lighting that enables airlines to optimize the cabin environment to complement various phases of flight with animated sequences synchronized to improve the passenger experience and reduce eye strain.
The new system is designed to stay at the forefront of consumer trends and in-flight entertainment products and services throughout its lifetime. Key hardware and software components have been designed to evolve to meet changing market requirements and satisfy ever-increasing passenger expectations. This helps ensure that travelers will always be able to seamlessly interface their devices to the IFE system to create the same omnichannel, multiscreen, multi-purpose environment which they are accustomed to at home.
For example, a removable peripheral bar ensures that Astrova can easily evolve to allow people to interact with the solution over time. This means that passengers will always be able to fast charge their devices with USB power even if new power requirements are introduced. In addition, this key feature means that passengers will be able to connect headphones or devices even if Bluetooth technologies or standards change.
Finally, Astrova is a seamless blend of newly developed hardware, software, and enterprise solutions that revolutionize the in-flight entertainment experience. Qatar will be able to offer the latest digital solutions and applications that cater to the personal and business needs of passengers each time they board an aircraft.
Ken Sain, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said, “We are pleased that Qatar Airways, one of the premier airlines in the world, has chosen Astrova for its fleet of 777x aircraft. Using our IFE innovation, Qatar Airways can leverage the latest consumer innovations to deliver unique passenger experiences to drive higher Net Promotor Scores, enhance passenger engagement, increase revenue, and achieve even greater operational efficiencies through IFE. We are very honored to launch this exciting new product and for Qatar to be the first to sign as the launch customer for the 777x aircraft type.”
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said, “Panasonic Avionics Corporation has a long history of building market-leading IFE solutions, and today, we are excited to unveil that Qatar Airways will be the launch customer of the new Astrova screens onboard our fleet of Boeing 777x. Our partnership is a testament to our commitment to providing a second-to-none customer experience. This industry-leading solution will provide our passengers with a cinema-grade, 4K OLED clarity that will captivate them when watching our latest blockbusters using the Oryx One IFE system.”
Astrova + Qatar = Sustainability
The selection of Astrova, by Panasonic Avionics, underscores Qatar Airways’ ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability. The airline’s corporate strategy has been at the forefront of the international news agenda. Some of the airline’s 2021-2022 achievements in the field of sustainability include:
- The first carrier in the Middle East to join the IATA Turbulence Aware data exchange platform
- The first carrier in the Middle East to join the ICAO Global Coalition for Sustainable Aviation
- The first carrier to make a carbon transaction on the IATA Aviation Carbon Exchange (ACE) via IATA Clearing House (ICH) to open a new chapter in the promotion of innovation towards environmental sustainability and voluntary carbon offset programs
- The first cargo carrier to join the IATA CO2NNECT platform offering a new voluntary carbon offsetting program for air cargo shipments
- The rollout of our bespoke e-learning program to increase environmental sustainability awareness amongst staff
- The collaboration with oneworld Alliance in developing the outline path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and committed to a collective target of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for 10% of combined fuel volumes by 2030
- The successful transportation of seven lions to nature reserves in South Africa free of charge, as part of our Rewild the Planet initiative, under the WeQare sustainability program
These important initiatives, along with Qatar Airways’ commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, solidify their position in taking a leading role in protecting the planet for future generations, ensuring these issues are firmly embedded in its corporate culture and customer-facing services.
Astrova offers significant weight savings compared to other seat-end architectures, which will help Qatar to reduce fuel burn to help meet the industry’s climate goals. Designed with modularity, scalability, and flexibility in mind, Astrova addresses the needs of modern airlines operating in today’s fast-changing market. Key hardware and software components can evolve to meet changing market requirements and satisfy ever-increasing passenger expectations. For example, a removable peripheral bar gives airlines the ability to easily add, upgrade or remove features such as USB power, Bluetooth audio, and other options.
Andy Masson, Vice President of Product and Portfolio Management at Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said, “Astrova, by Panasonic Avionics, not only redefines in-flight entertainment but does so using a modular architecture that enables airlines to tailor it to support their individual commercial needs. The engaging, immersive, and connected experience it creates for passengers is matched by operational ease of ownership that makes Astrova a win-win for airlines.”
It is also designed to be backward compatible with other Panasonic Avionics systems such as eX1, eX3, and NEXT, enabling operational commonality in areas such as media loading, spares, and repairs for some line replaceable units, and cabin crew operations.
Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova will be the host screen of Qatar Airways’ award-winning Oryx One (IFE) system; offering passengers over 5,000 entertainment options, from the latest blockbuster movies to TV box sets, games, and much more. Passengers can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the airline’s onboard Super Wi-Fi and GSM service. The Oryx One app is available for download from Google Play and Apple App stores, offering access to entertainment listings and downloadable digital content 24/7.
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Astrova redefines the role of the seatback IFE and reinforces its position as the most valuable opportunity for airlines to engage with their passengers. Because the average flight today is five hours, in-seat IFE offers a much longer dwell time than airline apps and other marketing channels. Astrova has been designed to provide significantly more opportunities to immerse passengers in an airline’s brand experience for both single-aisle and twin-aisle aircraft.
