August 21, 2007 – A RECENT flurry of new IFE and passenger communications developments from leading carriers on both sides of the Atlantic is indicative of the importance now being laid on this aspect of inflight service.

Lufthansa is to introduce in-seat screens in economy class on its long-haul flights. United Airlines is replacing analogue IFE technology with digital servers on its domestic fleet. And KLM is extending the availability of in-seat IFE across its long-haul fleet, marking the move by offering the associated Inmarsat-based text messaging and email service free of charge for three months.

From this winter Lufthansa will offer in-seat IFE in its long-haul economy cabins, preparing the way with passenger tests from the middle of this month on two aircraft operating from Frankfurt to Detroit, Houston and Toronto. Two alternative types of control are available: touchscreen, and a panel integrated into the armrest. Onboard surveys are being carried out to provide a basis for the decision between the two types of passenger interface.

Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet is to be progressively retrofitted with the new in-seat provision, with the first re-equipped aircraft returning to scheduled service in November.

United plans to use part of a $1.2 billion capital improvements budget to upgrade the IFE on its domestic fleet of 269 Airbus A320 and Boeing 757 single-aisle aircraft and 20 Boeing 767 and 777 widebodies. Lighter, more flexible and powerful digital servers will replace videotape-based head-ends.

United is also pushing ahead with an ambitious upgrade of its premium classes, announcing that it will start introducing a lie-flat seat this autumn with the aim of completing installations across the fleet in 2009. The B/E Aerospace-supplied seat, destined for a new business cabin in the entire international fleet of 97 Boeing 747s, 767s and 777s, will fully recline to form a 23.5in-wide, 72in-long bed.

A built-in IFE console includes a 15.4in screen – three times bigger than that in United’s current business class - and offers more than 150 hours of on-demand films and television programming, along with games, children’s channels, audio books and learning programmes.

United is also introducing a luxurious new first-class suite.

KLM is refreshing and extending the IFE service on its long-haul fleet. Audio/video-on-demand is currently available to business and economy passengers on the carrier’s Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s. It is now being extended to business class on the Boeing 747 fleet, with installations in both business and economy on the MD-11 trijets due to begin this autumn.

To encourage use of the system’s text messaging and email function, passengers are being given free access to the service from this month to October. The service normally costs $2.50 per message.

A wide variety of new IFE content will be added from the beginning of next month. As well as new films, games, programmes and documentaries, there will be new categories of music and more CDs available via the jukebox function, plus language lessons, audio books, background information about flying, and a business programme, all offered free of charge.

Berlitz World Traveller is to supply beginners? courses in 23 languages. Presented in an interactive audio-visual format, the courses include exercises, tests and games, and each lesson ends with a performance score. The audio book library will open in September with three English books and will be gradually extended thereafter. The ?About Your Flight? programme is designed to interest experienced travellers as well as reassuring nervous fliers. The ?B-Wise? programme is aimed at international business travellers and addresses cultural and business customs and protocol in various countries.