Connexion by Boeing has signed its third customer - Japan Air Lines. Beamed live into Farnborough from head office Boeing chairman and CEO Phil Condit said the contract was ‘a great endorsement for Connexion’*.

JAL has signed a Letter of Intent for ten aircraft, with options for more. Aircraft types have not been established, except that they will fly Japan-Europe route.

Like Lufthansa, JAL is opting for a full cabin installation, with the first aircraft expected for modification by first quarter ’04. Unlike Lufthansa however, JAL is not going to do a trial, rather a full-scale introduction of service from day one.

JAL managing director and senior vice president passenger services, Akihiko Kaji, said, ‘In our ongoing effort to offer the best customer value in the world, we believe it is essential to provide broadband real-time, inflight Internet connectivity.’

He added, ‘To have this service available at the earliest possible date, JAL has decided to become the launch customer in Asia for Connexion by Boeing.’

Meanwhile JAL has upgraded its IFE system in its executive class. Under the brand name Magic the new AVOD system has 10.4inch video monitors in the seatback, replacing the existing 6.4-inch screens mounted in armrests. A new soundtrack features a ‘nature’ title. Produced by Satoru Nakada, it features sounds and music from the tropical island of Bali and the Japanese island of Yakushim, south of Kagosima, which has an ancient cedar forest.

AC power points are also being installed from the autumn. The IFE is built into the new shell flat seat – a new flat reclining seat. This has maximum 62-inch pitch and a full recline of 170 degrees. The shell form is designed for relaxation and privacy.

The adjustable flat footrest folds up to extend the length of the seat in recline mode, which is 75 inches. There is a built in massage function. Armrests fold down to create a total width of 23.5 inches. With four independent motors and gear systems seat adjustment is designed to be smooth and soft.

The seats and IFE rolled out last month on Tokyo-London, to be followed by Tokyo-New York in September. The new seat will also be on other long-range routes to Europe and North America during 2003.

* It was the third time that Connexion had carried out teleconferencing. The first time was in January when Connexion teleconferenced to investors in St. Louis. The disbelieving terrestrial observers were finally convinced it was a live airborne broadcast when Connexion panned its cameras to the aircraft windows to reveal the Grand Canyon below.

IFE Services in Manchester, UK, has won two airline contracts. Kenya Airways has chosen IFE Services to provide all its video content, branding, original production and audio. This is part of Kenya’s upgrading of passenger services following the completion of a fleet renewal programme. The content will include a new daily news offering from BBC World downloaded by IFE Services at Kenya Airways’ Nairobi head office.

IFE Services will provide two movies every month for mainscreen viewing onboard Kenya Airways. It will also supply content for the Rockwell Collins’ TES system of nine movie channels (if some of these are the same as mainscreen movies they are changed every month) and three channels of short programming changed every quarter. Shorts include documentaries (food, culture, history), and Children’s programs such as cartoons, sitcoms and comedy sketches. Titles include The Flintstones, Looney Tunes, Dharma and Greg, and Sister Sister. Audio programming is changed quarterly. Popular channels for Kenya Airways include African music, Hindi music and Latin American music.

IFE Services is also providing specialised content such as a Welcome on Board Film and branding idents which brand the programming to the airline. These are usually seen in the form of animated sequences that use the airline logo in some way. Other productions are being discussed.

Cyprus Airways has chosen IFE Services again for the second year. This follows the success of its first year when the airline won IATA best inflight entertainment content of any airline in Europe. IFE Services will continue to provide all inflight entertainment content, branding and original production. Programming is changed quarterly.

Cyprus Airways is to receive a new A330 aircraft by the end of this year equipped with a new MAS2000E providing eight channels. Further A330s will be delivered next year. IFE Services will provide all the production work for the new system expected in service in fourth quarter this year. IFE Services spokesperson Georgina Beardsell said, ‘The new PTV system will offer passengers a greater choice of quality programming, carefully targeted to passenger preferences.’