SINGAPORE AIRLINES UNVEILS INFLIGHT E-MAIL AND NEXT-GENERATION ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

Singapore Airlines (SIA) continues to push back the boundaries of air travel by launching the world’s first global inflight e-mail system and a new-generation entertainment system.

The launch of the inflight e-mail system, supplied by Tenzing Communications, makes SIA the first airline in the world to offer inflight e-mail using a satellite-based communications network. It is available to customers in all three classes.

Said Mr Michael Tan, SIA’s Executive Vice President Commercial: “I believe this is another strong affirmation of SIA’s dedication and emphasis on the customer – whether he or she travels in First, Business or Economy Class.”

In conjunction with inflight e-mail, a dedicated server onboard will download and store hundreds of thousands of web pages to allow passengers to browse through.

The inflight e-mail and web access system is connected to Matsushita Avionics System’s new MAS3000 inflight entertainment system. SIA is the first airline in the world to install the system, which will revolutionalise its KrisWorld entertainment system. New, exciting features – all firsts in the airline industry – will be introduced in phases throughout the year.

As part of the first phase, all customers can play multi-player network PC games, which can pit customers against each other no matter where they are seated, as well as Nintendo Gateway Game Boy games (currently with 25 titles, including popular Pokémon titles). More game titles will be introduced later.

First and Raffles (business) Class customers, who already enjoy Wisemen, SIA’s audio and video on demand (AVOD) system, can now enjoy DVD-quality movies – the first time this feature has been offered by any airline.

From July this year, SIA will extend Wisemen to Economy Class customers. In addition, SIA plans to expand the movie list to 50, plus 60 hours of short features and 100 CD albums, making available to customers the widest choice of audio and video programmes in the air.

Said Mr Tan: “What is so special and outstanding about these developments and features is that we will extend the new audio-and-video-on-demand system beyond First and Business Class customers from July this year, at no charge. Hitherto this was not technically feasible.”

Currently, both systems are installed on a B747-400 aircraft, flying between Singapore and Los Angeles. They will be progressively installed on SIA’s entire Megatop B747 and Jubilee B777 fleet.

SIA is investing S$300 million over the next two years on developing its CyberCabins, of which inflight e-mail is a fundamental component.