Rolls-Royce plc backed MEZZO has announced the completion of contracts with three airlines from the TUI GROUP, with the first of these operations launching with ARKEFLY, the Netherlands largest charter airline, in Amsterdam today.

TUI Group, one of the world’s largest travel companies with extensive operations in European airlines, cruise ships and hotels, will deploy MEZZO IFE on its Dutch (Arkefly), Belgian (Jetairfly) and UK (Thomsonfly) charter airlines. The agreement increases the Portable IFE Specialist’s announced client list acquired in the last 9 months to 7 airlines.

“We are extremely pleased to add three airlines from the TUI Group to our growing list of clients and very much look forward to delivering great entertainment services for their passengers across Europe,” commented Martin Cunnison Executive Director at MEZZO. “Having significantly grown our operating bases within the UK over the past nine months, naturally our next key market to gain a foothold was continental Europe. We couldn’t wish to launch with a more prestigious player in the European charter holiday market than TUI. The launch in Amsterdam will see long-haul routes operate with 100 MEZZO players per aircraft which dispels the notion that there is a ceiling for the number of players a charter aircraft can carry.”

Operations for the TUI airlines will initially centre on Amsterdam, Brussels and Luton and operate on all aircraft within the Arkefly and Jetairfly fleets and selected long-haul destinations with Thomsonfly.

“As a long-haul charter airline, our passengers clearly expect in-flight entertainment, but existing main-screen IFE can’t keep up with their increasing demands for better quality and choice. Arkefly selected MEZZO IFE over embedded or other portable vendors primarily because of the attractiveness of their ‘fully outsourced’ option,” explained Paul Schmitt, Manager Sales and Planning at Arkefly. “The MEZZO service has a better return on investment than bringing the management of IFE in-house. In our search for a long-term partner, there was only really one service provider who had a business proposition, and more importantly a track record, that met our key criteria.”

MEZZO will provide Arkefly, Jetairfly and Thomsonfly with a fully managed Portable IFE, taking control of all aspects of delivering a first class service level. MEZZO provide all hardware, media content, ground handling management, crew and customer communications. The new service will be available on the airlines’ medium- and long-haul fleets of Boeing 767s, as a complimentary service to business passengers and for rental in economy.

Note to editors:

1. MEZZO is a Rolls-Royce plc backed Portable IFE Specialist offering bespoke, fully managed Portable IFE solutions.

2. MEZZO offers the most comprehensive of range of services including Full Ground Handling, Dependable Hardware, First-Class Content and Customer Insight Expertise.

3. MEZZO provide fully managed Retail IFE solutions for any airline wishing to explore the revenue generating potential of Portable IFE. Clients include Jet2.com, Flyglobespan.

4. MEZZO also provide bespoke Premium IFE solutions for any airline wishing to provide a superior quality of IFE to its most valued passengers without compromising on internal fiscal objectives. Clients include award-winning Silverjet.

5. MEZZO services are deployed as a substitute for costly investment in fixed systems or as a passenger enhancement or “service recovery” alongside existing main-screen IFE/AVOD systems and have abundant applications throughout many travel and leisure environments.

For all media enquiries please contact:
Steve Crawley
Marketing Manager
MEZZO
Mobile + 44 (0) 771 770 5624
Office + 44 (0) 092 207 1780
Fax + 44 (0) 207 092 1808
Email steve@MEZZO.aero