Ethiopian Airlines has achieved another milestone as it takes delivery of Africa’s first Airbus A350-1000, featuring Thales’s state-of-the-art AVANT Up Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system. The delivery, celebrated in Toulouse, France, marks a significant step forward in enhancing the passenger experience.
The AVANT Up system, designed by Thales, incorporates the latest in consumer technology to elevate inflight entertainment to unprecedented levels. Ethiopian Airlines’ passengers can now enjoy 4K QLED HDR Optiq displays, the first in the aviation industry, offering exceptional picture quality with over a billion vibrant colours.
AVANT Up also provides passengers with unmatched convenience through dual Bluetooth connectivity and built-in Wi-Fi, allowing them to pair multiple devices and stay connected throughout their journey. Additionally, the displays integrate Thales’s Pulse power management system, enabling passengers to charge their phones and laptops while enjoying a rich catalogue of entertainment options.
The collaboration between Ethiopian Airlines and Thales spans over a decade, with this latest partnership reinforcing Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to delivering cutting-edge technologies and experiences to its passengers.
Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group, expressed pride in this achievement:
“Keeping our legacy as a pioneer in aviation technology in Africa, we are more than pleased to have our A350-1000, the first of its kind in Africa, equipped with Thales’s AVANT Up Inflight Entertainment system. Achieving these milestones simultaneously doubles our pride, and we look forward to further collaborations with Thales InFlyt Experience.”
Niels Steenstrup, Chief Executive Officer of Thales InFlyt Experience, added:
“At Thales, we are proud of our long-term partnership with Ethiopian and are delighted to have our AVANT Up system flying on the first A350-1000 in Africa. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and creating new opportunities to bring exceptional experiences to Ethiopian and its passengers.”
This partnership not only strengthens Ethiopian Airlines’ position as a leader in aviation innovation but also sets new benchmarks for inflight entertainment across the continent.
