United Airlines Signs with Panasonic Avionics for Astrova In-Flight Service in the Americas

(from left to right): Mark Muren, Managing Director – Identity, Product, and Loyalty at United Airlines and Ken Sain, CEO of Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Panasonic Avionics secured its first customer in the Americas for its new Astrova in-flight engagement (IFE) solution. The company announced Tuesday that it signed an agreement with United Airlines (United) to install Astrova on select new Boeing 787 and Airbus A321XLR aircraft beginning in 2025. The contract represents the largest ever investment in Panasonic Avionics’ IFE by any airline.

The agreements cover both line-fit and retrofit installations across United’s fleet and are part of United Next, which is enhancing the passenger experience on narrowbody aircraft flown in domestic and short-haul international markets.

“Our customers tell us that they want to be engaged, entertained and productive in the air. Our new partnership with Panasonic Avionics will make that possible and enable us to set a new standard of in-flight excellence as a key part of United Next. Together United and Panasonic will drive new standards of engagement when customers come onboard a United aircraft,” United Airlines Managing Director of Identity, Product, and Loyalty Mark Muren said in a statement.

The deal follows a contract United signed with Panasonic Avionics in 2021 to install its X Series and NEXT IFE systems on both widebody and narrowbody aircraft.