Fiji Airways has joined the community of A350 operators benefiting from access to AFI KLM E&M’s dedicated component solutions.

Paris, Amstelveen, Nadi | November 27, 2019– AFI KLM E&M is delighted to welcome Fiji Airways into its community of customers for A350 component maintenance solutions. The Fijian airline has opted for a long-term partnership, and will enjoy access to high-performance, expert services in component repair, logistics and access to spare parts (via the Main Base Kit and parts pool).

AFI KLM E&M flourishing across the Pacific

The signature of this agreement sees AFI KLM E&M extend its working relationship with Fiji Airways, which began in 2013 for the latter’s fleet of A330s. At the same time, the Airline-MRO is expanding its market leadership in the Pacific region, and has established a position as a trusted partner for major airlines in the area.

The beating heart of AFI KLM E&M’s regional network is the Singapore hub, which includes a parts pool and the Singapore Component Solutions repair shop.

Modern solutions for a modern aircraft

With around 170 aircraft being supported in all continents, AFI KLM E&M is now a leading player in the A350 component support market.

“Fiji Airways is joining a vast community of customers who’ve entrusted AFI KLM E&M with components support for their A350 fleets,” explains Fabrice Defrance, SVP Commercial at AFI KLM E&M. “Our group designs tailor-made solutions for this ultra-modern aircraft, with targeted innovation to ensure our maintenance services remain at the forefront of efficiency and reliability. Wherever new-generation aircraft go, new-generation services must follow: thanks to our Prognos® system, we’re able to draw upon the vast wealth of data provided by these highly communicative aircraft in order to make predictive maintenance a reality.”

Welcome to the club!

AFI KLM E&M’s expertise in A350 component support now resonates on all the regions of the globe: “Our community of customers includes Delta Airlines, the only North American airline to operate this aircraft. In the Asia-Pacific region, we have three major Chinese airlines on board, as well as Thai Airways,” specifies Dominik Wiener-Silva, Vice President Sales Asia Pacific at AFI KLM E&M.

Fiji Airways will be joining the illustrious ranks of this international club, which now also includes Air France – whose first A350 made its maiden commercial flight on October 7^th.

Mr. Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO said: “The faith that these major international companies have shown in AFI KLM E&M reflects the quality of the solutions it has developed. We now have the reassurance of being able to count on the expertise of a solid and reliable partner to support the A350’s arrival into our fleet.”

 

Paris, France | June 22, 2017– Last Thursday, SkyLights was delighted to have been awarded ‘Les As De L’Innovation’ at the Paris Air Forum. The award was presented by Air France CEO, Franck Terner, in recognition of SkyLights’ entrepreneurial journey, innovative solution and market potential.

The news of this achievement came just hours after Air France-KLM CEO, Jean-Marc Janaillac, took the stage at Vivatech, Paris, to reveal the airline’s plans to nurture new innovation. Through its brand new ‘T3 Fundraiser’ programme, Air France will invest in innovative companies, with SkyLights being named the first to benefit.

In other news, AccorHotels Group also announced at VivaTech that it would partner with SkyLights to launch a pilot of its immersive entertainment solution in the executive rooms of Novotel, La Defense. The programme will start this Autumn, and will give guests the opportunity to enjoy 2D and 3D films and series in their own personal movie theatre.

KLM becomes first commercial carrier to certify ultra-thin, lightweight AeroGlass Mirrors
Hamburg, DE | April 4, 2017– AviationGlass & Technology (AGT) – a Dutch company specialized in the research, development and production of glass products for the aviation industry – today announced that KLM is certifying AGT’s AeroGlass Mirrors for its Boeing 777 fleet retrofit program which aims to fully revamp interiors to ensure greater comfort for passengers. KLM will be the first commercial airline in the world to upgrade its commercial Boeing 777 fleet with the new, ultra-thin and lightweight AeroGlass products inside the cabin.

AeroGlass Mirrors will first be installed in the lavatories of KLM’s famous ‘Orange Pride’ – the airline’s orange and blue Boeing 777-300 PH-BVA by the end of 2017. KLM’s Orange aircraft is used on routine flights and, whenever possible, during events offering opportunities to promote the Netherlands. The plane debuted last year and was operated on the Rio de Janeiro-Amsterdam route during the 2016 Olympic Games. KLM used the plane to bring home the Dutch Olympic heroes on what was called the “Medal Flight”.

AeroGlass is the world’s only certified ultra-thin and lightweight glass product for aircraft interiors. Up to 50% thinner and 25% lighter than traditional polycarbonate products yet highly robust as well as scratch and UV-resistant, AeroGlass Mirrors create the ultimate on-board experience inside business and commercial aircraft by providing superior optical quality via crystal-clear reflections. Cost of ownership and maintenance are significantly reduced due to the product’s high level of durability and resistance to scratching when cleaning and handling. AeroGlass Mirrors are available in any color and when combined with integrated lighting feature provides high quality branding and luxurious personalization opportunities.

Peter Slobbe, Vice President Fleet Services KLM said, “We are proud to certify and introduce ultra-thin and feather light glass mirrors on all our future Boeing 777 retrofits. KLM devotes a great deal of time and energy to innovation, as well as to the development of new products and services. Certifying AeroGlass Mirrors from AGT will lead to new levels of passenger comfort and design as well as contributes to our on-going sustainability efforts.”

John Rietveldt, AviationGlass & Technology’s CEO, said, “As a Dutch company, we are excited that our own national airline is the first commercial carrier in the world to introduce our AeroGlass Mirrors on its retrofitted fleet of Boeing 777s. This becomes even more prestigious by the fact that our AeroGlass Mirrors will also soon be installed on the “Orange Pride. Thousands of Dutch compatriots, including many of our national heroes, fly on this plane, making it truly an honour. Our crystal-clear mirrors will add to the atmosphere of one of our much loved national treasures.”

Hamburg, Germany | April 4, 2016– Rockwell Collins’ PAVES™ Passenger Service System (PSS) has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for Airbus A330 aircraft. The company teamed with Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to design, install and achieve the supplemental type certificate (STC) as part of a cabin upgrade for an A330 from AERCAP.

Rockwell Collins’ PSS is a standalone, cost-effective reading light and cabin crew call system with USB charging ports that replaces discontinued or unsupported systems.

Depending on the system it replaces, PAVES PSS can bring weight savings that exceed 1,000 pounds, producing millions of dollars saved annually from a significant reduction in fuel cost. Other benefits of upgrading to PAVES PSS include:

• Flexibility to operate as an independent system or with a variety of passenger entertainment solutions, including wireless, connectivity or overhead IFE such as PAVES Broadcast
• Greater efficiency as it requires much less power to operate than legacy systems
• Improved reliability resulting in a noticeable reduction in recurring maintenance costs.

In a very limited timeframe, adaptiveness and expertise of the AFI KLM E&M part 21 team allowed them to design and certify an innovative solution to integrate this system on A330, but also on every other next aircraft type. This flexible system has been installed in AFI KLM E&M hangar in Amsterdam, with the support of Rockwell Collins team onsite.

“Obsolescence of legacy reading light and cabin call systems, which are required to sell a seat, will soon become a reality that many airlines have to face,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Flight Controls and Information Systems for Rockwell Collins. “The innovative installation approach that AFI KLM E&M and Rockwell Collins took during this upgrade and resulting certification makes avoiding obsolescence easy and will more than pay for itself in the long run.”

“In a market where we have to propose innovative and cost-effective solutions to our customers, on a tighter schedule, AFI KLM E&M and Rockwell Collins teams created and implemented together a perfect tailor-made answer,” said Sami Smaoui, vice president, Aircraft Modification for Air France Industries.

PAVES PSS is part of Rockwell Collins’ complete portfolio of PAVES IFE and connectivity solutions that meet the passenger engagement needs of any airline, including seat-centric IFE, broadcast and wireless IFE, high-speed broadband connectivity, moving map and passenger services systems.

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the first scheduled, full-service airline to announce AirFi portable IFE box tests
• Two daily flights between AMS-MAD-AMS and AMS-IST-AMS are part of the 4 month trial
• No modification made to aircraft interior, boxes brought on/off aircraft each day

Amsterdam | March 2016– Since the beginning of March, Dutch flagship carrier KLM has been actively trialling the AirFi box portable inflight entertainment (IFE) solution onboard Boeing B737 passenger aircraft serving the carrier’s daily flights between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Madrid, and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Istanbul.

Through to early summer, passengers flying these selected KLM flights can use their personal mobile devices to connect to a free onboard Wi-Fi network created by AirFi boxes and positioned throughout the cabin in overhead bins. Once connected, passengers enter a 100% KLM-branded environment called ‘KLM in the Cloud’. There, they are free to enjoy newspapers, get destination information, browse a retail selection, chat seat-to-seat, join the KLM frequent flyer program or visit the Kid’s Place – with short videos featuring KLM’s popular jumbo-jet personality, Bluey.

“The KLM-AirFi pilot brings content on board, without the need to make aircraft modifications. The feedback from the first weeks, both from our crew and responses to our survey, shows the interest of our customers. The ‘KLM in the Cloud’ platform functioned from day one and was welcomed by our passengers, and AirFi continues to make adjustments to the setup and usability,” commented Joost Blom, Project Manager – Product Innovation Inflight at KLM.

“At the moment we have no embedded IFE on our single isle fleet, so adding a form of entertainment would expand our offer on our European routes. BYOD [bring your own device] is something our customers are doing regardless of our offer: people bring their devices loaded with entertainment and consume that during the flight,” he added.

During the four-month trial period, KLM will evaluate the content delivery capabilities, data collection opportunities, passenger uptake and operational feasibility of the AirFi portable IFE devices.

“The light and portable AirFi closed-network IFE streaming concept isn’t just for low-cost or holiday carriers,” says Job Heimerikx, CEO of AirFi. “Every airline can benefit from better digital services, more entertainment options and a means by which to stay connected to the traveller throughout his or her journey. It doesn’t have to be a drawn out affair. We can get an airline up and running with its own branded, closed-network streaming entertainment solution in mere weeks.”

• Air France launches Betria Interactive’s FlightPath3D Moving Map & Destination City Guide this summer on the first of their 777 fleet

Irvine, California | August 12, 2014– The Air France/KLM product innovation team selected FlightPath3D from Betria Interactive to deliver their next generation Moving Map & ‘geotainment’ service. This new service recently launched on the first of its updated fleet of Air France 777s serving dozens of international routes.

“We were very impressed with the quality, performance and experience of the product and felt that FlightPath3D delivered far above all other options,” noted Peter Verheijde, Director Product Innovation at AF KLM speaking of the recent Air France 777 service launch. “FlightPath3D is a centerpiece in our new service offering and really demonstrates the capabilities of the new Panasonic in-seat experience and new premium video handsets. It was a pleasure to work with Betria and to see this program come together so quickly. They have truly exceeded our expectations.”

The FlightPath3D service for Air France supports Panasonic’s new Android Video Handset Remote Control. Air France’s service includes 25,000 named locations across the world in up to 12 languages. The City Destination Guide initially covers 36 destination cities and will expand over time to cover many more Air France destination cities with detailed, street level city maps and rich, multi-media Point-of-Interest information.

“The FlightPath3D product suite delivers both an engaging experience and a next generation service that can ensure content remains current and relevant to the passenger’s interests,” offered Boris Veksler, President of Betria Interactive. “We are excited to have such a great partner as Air France to launch our new Video Handset Application and look forward to amazing and entertaining their audience for many years to come.”

Air France is currently engaged in a major upgrading project and now offers the FlightPath3D service on brand new, high-definition touchscreen displays in all its newly unveiled passenger cabins (Economy, Premium Business and La Première). A fleet of 44 Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft is progressively being fitted out with the new cabins to ensure optimum comfort for all passengers. KLM will also be offering the FlightPath3D service on board its upgraded aircraft from November 2014.

＊ Android is a registered trademark of Google Inc.
＊ Panasonic is a registered trademark of Panasonic Corporation

London, UK | May 29, 2013–From today (Wednesday 29 May), customers on selected Air France-KLM flights will be able to send text messages, check emails and browse the internet, thanks to Panasonic Avionics’ eXPhone service and AeroMobile, the leading inflight mobile phone operator.

The Dutch-French airline will launch the service on two flights today; a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Panama and an Air France flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to New York JFK. The service will initially be available on two Boeing B777-300 aircraft.

A registered GSM service provider for the aviation industry, AeroMobile provides the mobile network for airline passengers to roam inflight.

Passengers on Air France-KLM flights will initially be able to use SMS and data services from the aircraft, as long as their mobile operator has a roaming agreement with AeroMobile.

AeroMobile has agreements with over 220 mobile phone operators across 100 countries, including Orange and Bouygues in France and Telfort, KPN and Vodafone in the Netherlands. UK-based roaming partners include O2, Three and Vodafone.

Passengers who use the service are billed by their mobile phone operator, and prices vary depending on individual contracts. Prices are typically similar to ‘rest of world’ rates, or in some cases, lower.

“We’re delighted to add Air France-KLM to the list of high-profile airlines already offering the AeroMobile service to their passengers,” said Kevin Rogers, CEO of AeroMobile.

“Since we launched in 2008, over 17 million passengers have connected to AeroMobile inflight and we’re seeing huge demand from consumers who want to stay connected in the air. We expect the number of aircraft offering our service to double over the next 12 months, as more and more airlines see the benefit of offering inflight connectivity,” continues Rogers.

London, UK | June 21, 2012 — IFP, the market-leading inflight service provider specialised in providing solutions to engage passengers through tailored content, applications and services has signed a multi-year agreement to supply a complete range of inflight solutions to KLM.

IFP will continue to provide KLM with a complete service of engaging and cutting-edge IFE content, applications and promotions. These include movies, TV programming, audio, AVOD, advertising, games, meal menus, and just recently, the world’s first Movies & More app allowing passengers to view IFE content listings on their mobile devices. IFP’s evolution into the passenger engagement solutions provider will enable KLM to remain as a technology and passenger leader in the inflight market.

Audrey Zielinski, Manager of Inflight Entertainment at KLM, commented: “We are very happy with IFP’s continued support of KLM’s creative approach to inflight entertainment as we provide ever-more engaging content to our passengers.”

Roger Grange, Vice President of Content Acquisition and Licensing at IFP, added “We are delighted that KLM has renewed its trust in us as we evolve the inflight entertainment market. Our long-established relationship with the airline reaffirms IFP’s commitment to developing exceptional creative solutions to engage passengers in a new experience.”