JetBlue Airways subsidiary LiveTV has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) and Parts Manufacturing Authorization (PMA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), bringing the airline closer to having high-speed wi-fi and LiveTV’s IFE system installed on its new fleet of Airbus 321 aircraft. The LiveTV system – LiveTV 4.0 – will be combined with Fly-Fi, JetBlue’s inflight wi-fi product.
The Live TV 4.0 system has a larger screen (10.1in for standard economy and 15.6in in Mint), and additional content options. Through JetBlue’s partnership with DirecTV, customers will have access to more than 100 channels of live television with optional closed-captioning, a new TV guide that displays current and upcoming programme information, and two additional JetBlue Features, totalling eight features, each available with English and Spanish audio tracks. Additionally, JetBlue’s SiriusXM satellite radio offering will have an improved home screen where all programming information will be displayed on one screen.
JetBlue also launched Fly-Fi last December on its Airbus 320 fleet, and currently operates 37 Fly-Fi enabled aircraft. The airline is up to 10 A320 Fly-Fi installations per month and is targeting to have its entire Airbus320 fleet complete by the end of 2014.
“We are very excited that LiveTV has received approval from the FAA and we can now commence the next phase in this process – installing LiveTV 4.0 and Fly-Fi on the other three all-core A321 aircraft, which have been flying since last December,” said Jamie Perry, director of product development at JetBlue Airways. “The next step is to receive the certification needed for the first A321 Mint aircraft.”
JetBlue now has one A321 aircraft with LiveTV 4.0 and Fly-Fi installed, which re-entered service on April 28, 2014. The remaining three A321 aircraft will undergo LiveTV 4.0 and Fly-Fi installation throughout the spring, with all four A321 core only aircraft expected to be in service with LiveTV 4 and Fly-Fi installed by the end of June.
