Airline offers real-time, uninterrupted telecast of news channels and live football games

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, today took delivery of its first A330-200 aircraft retrofitted with Panasonic Avionics Corporation's Global Communications Suite. The comprehensive communications and entertainment solution, 'Sky Hub,' offers passengers onboard full broadband connectivity to access internet, mobile phone services and, for the first time in the world, a global, live television service onboard. The Panasonic's Global Communications Suite is being installed across Gulf Air's entire fleet of aircraft progressively.

"We are bringing to you, for the first time in the world, a fully integrated broadband connectivity offering high speed internet, very fast mobile data speeds, voice over the internet, streaming videos and the world's first in-flight live TV satellite stream across continents."

He added, "In tune with the fast-paced economy, Gulf Air is providing the fastest, affordable and unlimited internet and mobile access onboard for our clients to stay fully connected in the air and, we are pleased to be the first in the industry to offer our clients a connected airline."

"I am sure this avant-garde, cutting-edge innovation will fundamentally change our passengers' communications and entertainment experience onboard setting a new standard for in-flight entertainment," Mr. Majali concluded.

Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics Corporation said, "We are very excited and honored to have helped Gulf Air become the first carrier in the world to offer a in fact amazing passenger entertainment experience with broadband connectivity for high speed internet access, mobile voice and data services, and a live television service that includes some of the world's most popular news programming and live sporting events."

Using Panasonic's Global Communications Suite, Gulf Air will offer two-way broadband connectivity at speeds of up to 50 Mbps to the aircraft, enabling faster browsing, chatting and other internet based services. Gulf Air will offer deeply immersive, content-rich entertainment to boot to live, uninterrupted television services on routes across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Travelers can now watch their favorite football teams on IMG Media's Barclays Premier League channel or keep up with world events on favorite news channels just as BBC World News, BBC Arabic and Euronews.

The web at broadband speeds

Passengers as well will be able to browse the web at broadband speeds, and access social media services just as Facebook and Twitter. To boot, business travelers can access their virtual private network to send and receive emails during watching live-news and stock market updates at 35,000 feet. They simply need to turn on their personal device, connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi network, and log into the service through Deutsche Telekom, the wireless internet service provider onboard.

Panasonic's mobile voice and data service, offered in collaboration with AeroMobile's award winning in-flight mobile phone innovation, will enable passengers to use their mobile phone, Smartphone or BlackBerry device to call, text, email, browse the internet and use other applications throughout the flight. They will as well be able to use GSM-enabled tablets and laptops to go online in flight.

Live demonstration of the system

Journalists were given a live demonstration of the system and the possibility to personally experience the broadband connectivity onboard.

One of the prime objectives of Gulf Air is to connect Bahrain to the Middle East countries and the rest of the world. As such the airline currently operates the largest network in the Middle East with non-stop flights during providing seamless onward connections to other international destinations. The airline's current network stretches from Europe to Asia, connecting 51 cities in 33 countries, with a fleet of 34 aircraft.

The Kingdom'

In tune with the Kingdom's economic blue print, 'Vision 2030', Gulf Air's strategy is to build an efficient, commercially sustainable and dynamic airline that effectively serves the people and the economy of Bahrain and represents the Kingdom on the world stage. Reflecting the needs and aspirations of its clients, the strategy focuses on three core areas: a targeted, more focused international network, a superior, more consistent product and a modern, more efficient fleet that will optimize value. But, Gulf Air's goal remains unchanged; its commitment to the latest aviation research complemented by its hallmark Arabian hospitality for which the airline is then known. -?