40 Success Stories: When Thales Innovated With its AVANT IFE Portfolio
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To celebrate the 40th anniversary of APEX EXPO this year, we’re looking back at APEX members’ most significant achievements. Today, we consider how Thales pioneered the use of Android in its IFE solutions.
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Thales has been designing solutions with a view to improving the passenger experience for almost two decades. During this time, one of the company’s most significant investments – and accomplishments – has come as a result of its decision to build a next-generation in-flight entertainment (IFE) and connectivity solution around the Android platform.
Following the success of the iSeries IFE system, Thales created AVANT to bridge the gap between a passenger’s experience at home and in the air. AVANT was the industry’s first Android-based IFE solution and was launched in 2013 on an Airbus A350 operated by Qatar Airways.
“We were able to tap into a network of third-party developers already designing apps for smartphones, and integrate them directly to the seatback.” – Tudy Bedou, Thales InFlyt Experience
“By using the Android platform, AVANT revolutionized the IFE industry. We were able to tap into a network of third-party developers already designing apps for smartphones, and integrate them directly to the seatback,” said Tudy Bedou, chief technology officer, Thales InFlyt Experience. “Passengers now had access to the latest games and applications, which airlines could continually introduce and easily integrate to meet their customer’s demands.”
AVANT is now in its sixth generation. It features the latest 4K displays and new state-of-the-art security and encoding capabilities to enable the streaming of premium ultra-high definition content. Powered by Thales’s InFlyt360 digital platform, Thales’s IFE system will soon leverage big data and analytics to give passengers targeted recommendations and offers throughout their travel journey.
To date, Thales’ AVANT IFE system has been selected by over 35 airlines and committed on 1,600 aircraft, as the company continues on its mission to “move the passenger experience from entertainment to true engagement,” Bedou explained.
See more posts from the 40 Success Stories campaign.