Mar 30, 2005

Virgin Blue`s International airline Pacific Blue has announced it will soon offer unique in-flight entertainment to travellers between Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Pacific Blue will begin phasing in the digEplayer entertainment units - a completely self contained portable on-demand entertainment system - from late May and will have them available on all flights from June 13.

Travellers will be able to rent one of the 60 digEplayers on every flight for $12 and watch a selection of movies, children`s favourites, recent TV shows and music videos.

``We are excited that Pacific Blue will be the first airline in the southern hemisphere to have these innovative systems on board,`` says Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey.

``They have been a great success and are hugely popular on airlines that have introduced them in the USA and Europe and we are confident that our guests will also appreciate having them as an entertainment option to help make their flight even more enjoyable.``

The personal entertainment unit will compliment Pacific Blue`s existing audio entertainment.

``The team is focussed on ensuring Pacific Blue looks beyond offering great value fares and outstanding service to being a step ahead of the rest in terms of providing additional product enhancements to suit the needs of its guests,`` says Godfrey.

He says the strategy is in line with the airline`s ``user pays`` approach that offers the same level of service to all travellers at a small cost, without impacting on the carrier`s low cost base and its ability to provide sustainable long term low fares.

Each unit, encrypted with a 40 gigabyte hard drive and a 7 inch screen, is designed to sit on the fold down tray table and is easily shared between passengers.