• First Sale of Dedicated VVIP Broadband Connectivity Solution
• Leverages Partnership with Associated Air Center

East Aurora, NY | April 8, 2014– Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace and defense industries, announced today that Astronics AeroSat, its wholly-owned subsidiary and manufacturer of Ku-band airborne connectivity solutions, has secured its first VVIP customer for FliteStream™, a satellite broadband solution for the VVIP aircraft market. FliteStream provides a global connectivity solution expressly designed for VVIP and business aviation customers, who demand the highest level of service and performance from airborne broadband systems. The initial FliteStream installation will be performed by Associated Air Center, StandardAero’s Large Transport Category VVIP completions center in Dallas, TX, aboard a new Boeing B747-8 for an undisclosed customer. As part of the complete FliteStream solution, Astronics AeroSat will be providing the full installation design and STC data package.

“We were very impressed with both the capability and range of customized service offerings that Astronics AeroSat delivers through its FliteStream solution,” said Jack Lawless, Chief Executive Officer of Associated Air Center. “When dealing with VVIP aircraft, it’s essential that we offer a well-designed, complete solution that can be tailored to the worlwide operating needs of our customers,” he added.

“We created the FliteStream solution for elite aviation markets, and we’re gratified that an organization as capable and well-regarded as Associated Air Center would be our customer,” noted Skip Feher, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Astronics AeroSat. “Because the FliteStream connectivity service is not shared with commercial airline passengers, it offers a more robust and predictable broadband experience that’s not susceptible to choke points in areas of high density airline traffic, making it extremely attractive to VVIP customers,” Mr. Feher concluded.

The one-stop FliteStream solution is designed for performance and customer convenience. It features AeroSat’s highly efficient, patented “Lens Horn” antenna technology, a defined upgrade path to Ka-band, and a Certification Assistance Program™. Worldwide, 24/7 AOG support with a single point of contact is also included.

FliteStream service plans feature customer-defined options for geographic regions and bandwidth requirements. These service plan options will ensure that each VVIP operator will receive the
service level that meets the unique needs of his or her demanding business.

• Lufthansa will have the largest connected B747-8 fleet in the world

London, UK | February 6, 2014– Today, Boeing will deliver the first B747-8 to be fully line-fitted with the AeroMobile inflight mobile service. The aircraft took its delivery flight from Seattle to Frankfurt on 6 February 2014.

Europe’s largest airline, Lufthansa, will receive the landmark delivery, which will open the path for all future B747-8s to be fitted with AeroMobile connectivity. The German flag-carrier has confirmed it will roll out mobile connectivity across its entire long-haul fleet of over 100 aircraft this year.

A registered mobile service provider for the aviation industry, AeroMobile provides the mobile network for airline passengers to roam on inflight. AeroMobile has roaming agreements with more than 240 mobile phone operators worldwide, including German networks T-Mobile, Vodafone, e-Plus and O2 Germany, as well as AT&T and T-Mobile in the USA and EE, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK.

Lufthansa has 19 B747-8s set to enter their fleet. Nine of these aircraft have already been delivered and will be retro-fitted this year. The additional deliveries will leave the Boeing facility in Seattle fully line-fit with AeroMobile connectivity. Once all of the aircraft have been delivered, Lufthansa will have the largest B747-8 fleet in the world, all with full mobile connectivity.

The aircraft, which accommodates 362 passengers and is the world’s longest passenger airliner, will be routed to destinations such as Washington, Mexico City, Hong Kong Delhi and Bangalore. As well as AeroMobile connectivity, the B747-8 will be delivered with the full Fly-Net offering of Wi-Fi and Live TV and Mobile.

Two aircraft types have now been cleared for AeroMobile line-fit at Boeing; the B777-300ER, with recipients including Thai Airways,Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines, and the B747-8. AeroMobile also operates on B747-400 and B737 aircraft.

“It’s great news that Boeing will be rolling out AeroMobile connectivity on their B747-8 fleet and Lufthansa clearly recognises the value of offering this service alongside Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment. In fact, our research show that inflight mobile connectivity actually complements inflight Wi-fi and results in increased passenger satisfaction and additional revenue for airlines,” said Kevin Rogers, CEO of AeroMobile.

“Consumers expect to be connected 24/7 and being up in the air is no longer an exception. In 2013 we saw close to an 80 per cent increase in the number of passengers using their mobile phones in the aircraft cabin, data usage increased ten-fold and SMS traffic increased by 50 per cent.”

EVERETT, Wash., April 27, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has passed a major milestone in the design of the 747-8 Intercontinental, completing 25 percent of the design releases for the new passenger airplane. This means a quarter of the information needed to build parts and tools for assembly has been completed and released for fabrication or procurement. “We have made tremendous progress on the design engineering,” said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager for the 747 Program. “The engineering is proceeding as planned and we are a step closer to bringing the 747-8 Intercontinental to market.”

Since much of the design is the same as the 747-8 Freighter, which Boeing is building first, the engineering focus is on work that is unique to the 747-8 Intercontinental, comprising mostly fuselage and interior design. The most obvious difference is that the 747-8 Intercontinental fuselage will boast an extended upper deck.

On the interior, the airplane will incorporate features from the 787 Dreamliner, including a new curved, upswept architecture that will give passengers a greater sense of space and comfort, while adding more room for personal belongings. The architecture will be accentuated by lighting technology that provides smooth transitions for a more restful flight.

“The 747 family has been a favorite among passengers,” said Michael Teal, 747-8 chief project engineer. “The 747-8 Intercontinental will build on the memorable experiences they’ve had on a 747. The moment passengers step aboard a 747-8 Intercontinental, they will know it’s a brand new airplane and enjoy a more relaxing flying experience.”

As for the airplane’s performance, the 747-8 will be stretched 18.3 feet (5.6 meters) from the 747-400 to provide 467 seats in a three-class configuration and a range of approximately 8,000 nautical miles (14,815 kilometers). It will deliver nearly equivalent trip costs to those of the 747-400 and 13 percent lower seat-mile costs, plus 26 percent greater cargo volume. The 747-8 Intercontinental also will be 16 percent more fuel efficient and create a 30 percent smaller noise footprint than its predecessor.

“The 747-8 Intercontinental will be a great airplane for our customers,” said Yahyavi. “Our team is focused on completing the remaining detailed design needed to deliver the airplane in late 2011.”

The 747-8, which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental and the 747-8 Freighter, was launched in November 2005 by Cargolux Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines. Lufthansa was the first airline to order the 747-8 Intercontinental in December 2006.

EVERETT, Wash., April 21, 2009 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has completed major assembly of the first set of wings for the 747-8 Freighter. The new 135-foot 3-inch (41.2 m) wings incorporate the latest aerodynamic technologies to fly farther and more efficiently. The advanced airfoil provides improved overall performance and greater fuel capacity.

The Boeing 747-8 Freighter and Intercontinental are the new high-capacity 747s that offer airlines the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large passenger or freighter airplane, while providing enhanced environmental performance.