A woman uses her mobile device in flight, connecting to the AirFi-powered portal.

Press Release: AirFi deploys wireless IFE onboard Etihad narrowbodies

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Press Release hub banner blue with title in red white and blueAirFi, world leaders in portable cabin technology innovation, are pleased to announce that Etihad Airways, flag carrier of the UAE, has equipped ten Airbus A320 aircraft that recently joined its fleet with AirFi’s wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) platform.

The ten A320 aircraft, operating from Etihad’s hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, have gone live with complimentary streaming inflight entertainment for passengers, who, using their own mobile devices, can connect to the Wi-Fi network created by AirFi’s portable streaming technology onboard to enjoy the same premium user experience and content that is available across the rest of Etihad’s fleet.

Thanks to intense collaboration between Etihad’s marketing teams, ground service suppliers and AirFi’s engineers, deployment – from contract signing to go-live – was achieved in less than one month.

There is potential for the contract between AirFi and Etihad to be expanded to include more newly added aircraft in the future.

Commenting on the partnership, Egle Paleviciute, AirFi’s Sales Manager, said: “As a national carrier of the UAE, Etihad is a very discerning airline with incredibly high standards and a clear vision of its future as part of its ‘Journey 2030’ growth plan, so working with them is an honour. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will bring Etihad’s exceptional content library and award-winning user experience to more passengers than ever before.”

Etihad, which marked its 20th anniversary in November 2023 with the unveiling of ambitious plans for sustainable, profitable expansion, has received numerous awards for its premium passenger experience. At the end of 2023, Etihad was crowned ‘Design Airline of the Year 2023’ and ‘Most Improved Airline Brand’ at the annual DesignAir Awards. It also won ‘Best Customer Experience,’ ‘Best Economy Class’ and ‘Best First Class Lounge’ at the 2023 World Travel Awards.

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AirFi’s portable streaming IFE solution has been deployed with more than 80 customers around the world since its introduction in 2014. Today, the AirFi box, now in its third generation, is still the market-leading portable IFE product thanks to its quick deployment, flexible open platform architecture, long battery life and exceptional safety qualifications.

The AirFi box, which enables inflight entertainment streaming to passenger devices, also forms the backbone of AirFi’s complementary airline solutions, including Connected Crew and AirFi LEO Connectivity, which received the 2023 Crystal Cabin Award for best IFEC and Digital Services.

About AirFi

With offices worldwide, AirFi is a travel technology company that helps airlines deliver digital entertainment, shopping, and brand experiences to passengers, unlock operational benefits for crew and drive ancillary revenues from onboard sales. AirFi’s state-of-the-art portable wireless streaming solutions are safe, proven, cost-effective, and easy to deploy. More than 80 airline and rail operators trust AirFi and its portfolio of commercial, fulfilment and content partners to provide enriching passenger experiences while supporting ancillary revenue strategies in the cabin.

Featured image credited to AirFi