Qatar Airways contracts Thales to supply IFE tech

Qatar Airways has selected Thales to provide in-flight entertainment and communication systems for its Boeing 787 aircraft. Thales will supply products from its TopSeries range including passenger touch screen displays, interface options for personal electronic devices and 3D audio technology. Qatar Airways will also be the first airline to introduce Thales’ new passenger handset controller with multi-tasking capabilities. The control unit is an intelligent device that enables passengers to play games and navigate through the in-flight entertainment system using touchscreen technology. Broadband connectivity will be integrated into the IFE system, allowing the potential for every passenger to access current news, sports, social networks and other mobile applications. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the in-flight offering on the airline’s B787 fleet will be a step beyond what is currently available in the sky. “The airline is continuing to expand at a rapid pace and with the opening of New Doha International Airport in addition to the delivery of our first B787s scheduled for 2011, the future is looking very bright indeed,” Al Baker said.The Doha-based carrier has outstanding orders of 30 firm and 30 optional Boeing 787-8 aircraft due for delivery from 2011.