Swiss and Panasonic Raise the Bar in Passenger Experience

News provided by

Feb 23, 2016, 08:30 ET

LAKE FOREST, California, February 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), the national airline of Switzerland, is renewing its focus on passenger experience in partnership with Panasonic Avionics by introducing inflight connectivity and a new user interface design.

The first of nine SWISS Boeing 777-300s has entered into service providing global inflight Wi-Fi and 3G phone services from Panasonic's Global Communications Services. All are being line-fit at the OEM with the state-of-the-art system. Serving 104 destinations in 48 countries worldwide, SWISS is leveraging Panasonic's unique broadband offering, which will allow passengers to email, surf the Internet, use social networks and even make calls.

SWISS also has introduced Panasonic's eXcite2 software to its inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, which dramatically increases functionality and modernizes design, benefitting both the passenger and the airline. It introduces enhanced touch-screen performance for passengers with faster navigation and response, 3D effects and animation, as well as more dynamic graphics and richer content. eXcite2 allows airlines to dramatically reduce the time required to redesign their user experience and it makes frequent updates easier than ever before. It also allows SWISS to easily brand its own content, which can be used to create uniformity across both in-seat monitors and synchronized passengers' own personal devices.

Paul Margis, CEO and President of Panasonic Avionics, said: "With such a significant global network, Panasonic is the natural choice for SWISS as it looks to offer its passengers a fully connected journey. Our provision of eXcite2 for the airline will also help transform not only the passenger experience, but also the ability of SWISS to open up revenue opportunities and enhance its brand through its entertainment systems."

"The recently deployed inflight connectivity will allow our passengers to enjoy a new dimension of air travel experience," says Markus Binkert Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Executive Board of SWISS.

About Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world's leading supplier of inflight entertainment and communication systems. The company's best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling its customers to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs.

Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 4,100 employees and operations in 80 global locations, it has delivered over 8,000 IFE systems and 1,000 inflight connectivity solutions to the world's leading airlines. For additional information, please visit http://www.panasonic.aero .

SOURCE Panasonic Avionics Corporation