April 5, 2005 – IMS INFLIGHT has sold its PEA handheld IFE system to another two airlines and is trialling it with at least one more. Further sales announcements are expected soon, according to IMS chief executive Alan Pellegrini.

In a clear sign that the handheld market now has another major player alongside the pioneering APS with its digEplayer, California-based IMS announced today that India’s Jet Airways and Harmony Airways of Canada had joined Brazilian carrier Varig on the PEA customer list. The system is also being trialled by Singapore low-cost Valuair, and evaluations with a number of other carriers are known to be in the offing.

Meantime, industry sources indications that Panasonic is about to jump into the handheld ring, while there are signs that APS and parent company Wencor are beginning to run into logistical problems arising from the phenomenal early success of digEplayer.

India’s biggest domestic airline, Jet Airways plans an initial launch of PEA this month on three Boeing 737-800/900s. Content will comprise Hollywood and Bollywood films, along with music videos and short programming.

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 34 Boeing 737-400/700/800/900s and eight ATR 72-500 turboprops on over 270 daily flights to 44 destinations in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It plans to launch services to London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur later this year.

Vancouver-based low-cost Harmony Airways flies Boeing 757s to Toronto, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Maui (Hawaii) and Palm Springs (California). It is expected to reveal its plans for PEA next month.

Singapore’s Valuair is evaluating PEA on its route to Perth, Australia. The PEAs are available on loan for a rental charge of S$10 (US$6), covering use of the device and purchase of a headset. Content includes films, TV programmes, music videos, music and games. “We understand the need to offer something that will help make flying these longer distances enjoyable,” says Valuair PR manager Nilesh Pritam. “Depending on demand, we will increase the number of sets available.”

A potentially formidable competitor for PEA and digEplayer is due to be unveiled this week. Panasonic is reported to be telling content providers that its offering will be ready for a security check by the third quarter of this year. Other sources suggest that the new product will differ significantly from the standalone PEA and digEplayer, delivering its content not from an integral hard disc but wirelessly from an onboard head-end server.

In a rare reverse for the digEplayer juggernaut, Canada’s Air Transat is reported to have terminated a trial at the beginning of this month, four weeks ahead of schedule.

Unlike some other recent handheld triallists, the carrier is said to have prepared well, ensuring that there was French as well as English content, rostering a trained and dedicated flight attendant on each digEplayer flight, and offering the players on suitably long flights.

But it is reported that the trial was undermined by a number of factors – late delivery of some of the 100 leased units, serviceability problems and lack of spare parts, and the cost and quality of content, particularly in relation to French-language material. Air Transat is believed to have now turned its attention to PEA.