• Pioneering technology has Personalization and Mobile First at its core to create an immersive experience for guests using 4K OLED screens
• Guests can select content on the Riyadh Air app before travel and launch upon boarding, plus resume watching on their next flight
• Partnership was announced at APEX EXPO in Long Beach, California

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s premium international airline, has announced a new partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics) as its official partner for inflight entertainment (IFE) at the APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) EXPO in Long Beach, California. This collaboration uses Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova IFE solution which is set to enhance Riyadh Air’s guest experience by providing an immersive entertainment experience on board.

The partnership will see Panasonic Avionics’ Astrova IFE solution installed across Riyadh Air’s entire Boeing 787-9 fleet facilitating a broad range of innovative solutions for guests that include prior browsing and selection of content, continuous viewing from flight to flight, and pairing of smart devices. The airline’s research has shown that guests demand USB-C port charging technology – aligning with Saudi Arabia’s mandate for mobile phones to have USB-C charging ports by 2025 - while seeing less value in dated hardware such as corded handsets and slower wireless charging.

Riyadh Air will offer guests an array of high-quality content through state-of-the-art 4K OLED HDR 10+ screens that feature top-notch, cinema-quality visuals, interactive capabilities, and unmatched reliability. This is coupled with high-fidelity audio that guests can experience on their own wireless headphones using Panasonic Avionics’ Bluetooth® technology, and up to 100W of DC power via USB-C for fast charging devices. The addition of Panasonic Avionics’ technology further cements Riyadh Air’s commitment to delivering an exceptional and engaging guest experience.

Anton Vidgen, Vice President of Guest Experience at Riyadh Air, said:

Our partnership with Panasonic Avionics represents a significant step forward in our mission to redefine the guest experience. By equipping our fleet with Panasonic Avionics’ advanced in-flight entertainment systems, we are ensuring that our guests enjoy a seamless, immersive, and world-class experience from takeoff to landing. This is truly groundbreaking in many ways as it brings together many different elements of IFE innovation in one platform and by not having a legacy, we are able to take advantage of the latest generation in hardware and software to deliver a similar experience to what we’re used to at home.

Hernan Abbes, Vice President of Global Sales at Panasonic Avionics, said:

We are excited to be Riyadh Air’s IFE partner. From the moment of launch, they have shown a clear desire to innovate, and we are confident that our Astrova IFE solution will deliver an engaging and immersive inflight experience for their guests. Astrova also reimagines the ownership experience and its modular design will enable Riyadh Air to keep up with market trends by easily upgrading components and making software updates, thus reducing lifecycle costs.

This collaboration underscores Riyadh Air’s dedication to innovation, comfort, and world-class service, enhancing every aspect of the travel experience for its guests. Riyadh Air continues to redefine premium travel, driven by a mission to connect the world to Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and vision for the future.