Panasonic Avionics has unveiled its next-generation in-flight entertainment system, “eXNeo,” at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) held in Hamburg, Germany.
Positioned as a replacement for the conventional X Series, it will be launched in 2027. By adopting the latest generation CPU and GPU and significantly upgrading storage and RAM, the system improves response speed and operability. It will also support Bluetooth connectivity and the latest Android OS.
The system enables airlines to use the same level of functionality as Panasonic Avionics’ latest products, such as “Astrova” and “Converix,” on their older generation systems. While modernizing the in-flight entertainment system, there is no need to refurbish the entire cabin or install new seats. By utilizing existing infrastructure, airlines can shorten the time required for modifications.
Although deliveries of the latest generation “Astrova” are increasing, it is expected that about half of this year’s shipments will still be older generation products. In addition to constraints related to supply chains, certification, and cost, airlines operate a wide variety of aircraft types and cannot upgrade their entire fleets at once. For this reason, Panasonic Avionics will retrofit the X Series so that it can run the same applications and functions as “Astrova.” Around 200 to 300 seatback monitors can be replaced overnight, minimizing downtime.
More than 1.4 million units of the X Series have been delivered over roughly 15 years, and a vast number of these systems are still in operation. The company says eXNeo is also well suited for aircraft that are approaching the end of their service life. Panasonic Avionics anticipates demand on a scale three times larger than the current backlog of orders for “Astrova.”
Notice
This article was generated using automatic translation by GPT-4 API. The translation may not be accurate.
