Dallas, Texas | December 13, 2016– Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is committed to enhancing the inflight Customer experience and improving connectivity on Southwest® flights across the U.S. and near international destinations. This commitment is demonstrated with the carrier’s announcement today that it has entered into connectivity agreements with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) and Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE). The agreement with Panasonic provides for their Global Communications Services, which include WiFi and live television, to be offered on a portion of the carrier’s fleet, with the first Panasonic equipped aircraft scheduled to enter service in late 2017. The agreement with GEE extends the carrier’s use of the company’s Airconnect connectivity system and services. Both of the agreements support Southwest’s focus on yielding greater WiFi bandwidth available to Customers on WiFi-equipped aircraft.

Southwest’s agreements with Panasonic and GEE align with next year’s planned retirement of the carrier’s non-WiFi-equipped 737-300 Classic aircraft and the introduction of the new Boeing 737-8 (MAX). By the end of 2017, Southwest Airlines is targeting to operate a 100 percent WiFi-equipped fleet of more than 700 aircraft.

“As the largest domestic airline in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, carrying more than 100 million Customers a year, we are committed to providing an enhanced inflight experience for our Customers,” said Ryan Green, Vice President Marketing for Southwest Airlines. “We’ve led the way in Customer experience, being the first U.S. carrier to offer gate-to-gate connectivity to our Customers while having the foresight that Customers prefer to use their own devices to stay connected. Going forward, our Customers will have the capability to stay connected on Southwest Airlines flights with even more bandwidth at their disposal.”

The Customer experience with connectivity remains a top priority for Southwest. Southwest’s agreements with GEE and Panasonic demonstrate the Company’s focus to keep Customers connected to what matters most in their lives, especially onboard their Southwest flights. In mid-2017, Customers will be able to browse the Internet at increased speeds as a result of an expected bandwidth increase of at least three times more than what they currently experience, with an additional expected bandwidth increase in mid-2018. Connectivity speeds are expected to increase, and Southwest plans to develop relationships with content providers to bring even more exclusive content to its Customers while on flights.

“We are pleased to extend and grow our relationship, including continuing to install GEE’s Airconnect system, WiFi and television services on Southwest Airlines aircraft,” commented Dave Davis, CEO of Global Eagle. “We’re committed to continuously improving the inflight connectivity experience for Southwest’s passengers with our next-generation high performance network, our live television portfolio, and our new passenger experience platform. Global Eagle’s new agreement and contract extension with Southwest Airlines highlights our long-term commitment to enhancing inflight entertainment and connectivity.”

Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics said, “We are both honored and excited to partner with Southwest on a program of this size and magnitude. Over the past year, we’ve been rolling out industry-leading high throughput satellite services, and we’re already evaluating new technologies such as XTSTM (Extreme Throughput Satellite) services, new modem designs and cutting-edge antenna technology that will ensure the best possible WiFi and entertainment experience for our customers and their passengers. We look forward to being a valued partner for both WiFi and entertainment services with Southwest for many years to come.”

“Panasonic has a longstanding reputation within the inflight entertainment and connectivity space and we are excited for them to join our inflight experience. Global Eagle Entertainment has been the inflight connectivity provider for Southwest over the past six years and has continued to grow with our business, extending connectivity to millions of our Customers annually,” Green said. “We are pleased to have both partners helping to provide an improved inflight experience over the next 18 months as we continue to see an increase in demand for inflight WiFi connectivity.”

Customers will continue to enjoy the current onboard entertainment offerings they experience with Southwest today, such as free live TV and $8 per device per day for WiFi connectivity across all WiFi-equipped planes.

• ANA Combines Connectivity, Live Television, and Best–‐In–‐Class Inflight Entertainment to Connect Passengers to a Unique Entertainment Experience

Tokyo, Japan | April 28, 2015– All Nippon Airways (ANA), which is Japan’s largest airline, has received its first B787-9 aircraft with Panasonic’s inflight entertainment (IFE), live television and broadband Wi-Fi from Panasonic Avionics Corporation.

ANA’s new Dreamliner will have the full suite of the world’s best inflight entertainment and connectivity solutions from Panasonic, including its industry-leading live television product, eXTV. The service will give ANA passengers opportunities to view a host of live channels during their flight, including NHK World Premium, CNN and Sport 24, allowing them to keep up with both news and live sporting events.

In addition to live television, ANA passengers will also be able to purchase Wi-Fi access to browse the internet and send emails using Panasonic’s eXConnect service. The 787-9 aircraft will also feature eX3, Panasonic’s most advanced inflight entertainment system.

Mr Koji Oka, Director of Products and Services Strategy for ANA said, “For years our passengers have enjoyed an incredible entertainment experience through our partnership with Panasonic, and with our new 787-9 aircraft, we wanted to elevate this experience to a whole new level. With a powerful mix of early window content, live television and international Wi-Fi, we’re setting a new standard for air travel, and we are proud to partner with Panasonic.”

Panasonic Avionics Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Margis said, “ANA’s goal was to create something truly unique for their passengers. Together, we have combined the world’s most advanced inflight entertainment technology to offer a connected seatback experience that includes multiple channels of real-time news, the world’s most popular sporting events and other television programming. The result is a one-of-a-kind experience for their passengers.”

– Airline offers the world’s largest fleet of aircraft with live television

Chicago, IL | May 8, 2013– United Airlines has equipped its 200th aircraft with live television, offering customers more than 100 channels of live programming while in-flight. United operates more live television-equipped aircraft than any other airline in the world.

United currently offers live television on most Boeing 737 aircraft and on many of its Boeing 757-300 aircraft. In addition to live news, sports and family entertainment, customers may enjoy up to eight newly released movies a month. The service is complimentary for customers in United First and available for purchase in United Economy starting at $5.99 and varying depending on the length of flight.

“The launch of live television on our 200th aircraft, our introduction this year of flat-bed seating on the transcontinental ‘p.s.’ service and satellite Wi-Fi now being implemented on our entire mainline fleet reflect our commitment to advancing the inflight experience for our customers,” said Tom O’Toole, senior vice president of Marketing and Loyalty at United and president of MileagePlus.

Live television-equipped aircraft also feature power outlets in United First and United Economy Plus, enabling customers to charge their cell phones, laptops, e-readers and other mobile devices.

Onboard Improvements

The expansion of live television on United aircraft comes as the airline continues to invest in its onboard products.
United offers personal on-demand entertainment for premium-cabin and economy-cabin customers on the majority of its long-haul international aircraft, providing hundreds of hours of movies, television programs, music and games. Additionally, United is:

 

• Installing satellite Wi-Fi. The airline expects to have more than 200 aircraft equipped with the service by the end of 2013.

• Adding flat-bed seating on all of the airline’s long-haul international aircraft. United currently offers more flat-bed seating than any other U.S. carrier.

• Introducing flat-bed seats on its transcontinental ‘p.s.’ Premium Service, offering a revamped premium cabin, all-new interiors, personal on-demand entertainment, Wi-Fi connectivity, in-seat power and USB ports. The airline expects to complete the reconfiguration of p.s. aircraft by the end of the year.

• Adding extra-legroom Economy Plus seating. The airline currently offers Economy Plus seating on nearly 650 mainline aircraft and approximately 150 regional jets.

• Nearly doubling the overhead storage space on more than 150 Airbus aircraft, with more than half of those retrofits completed.

• Implementing streaming wireless video onboard its Boeing 747-400 aircraft beginning later this year.