Oman Air has joined the wave of Middle Eastern carriers setting new standards of high-technology cabin service.
The Muscat-based airline will soon emulate the likes of Emirates, Wataniya Airways and Royal Jordanian in offering onboard mobile phone services on its aircraft. But it will also go one better, throwing in live television via Rockwell Collins’ Tailwind 560 system.
The complete mix of IFE and connectivity will be seen to full advantage in business class on the seven new Airbus A330-200s and -300s that Oman Air will introduce from August. The Sogerma-manufactured seats will each have a 17in screen to present television programming and content from the Thales TopSeries i5000 audio/video-on-demand IFE system. The cabin has a total of 20 seats, laid out four-abreast in 1-2-1 configuration.
Economy class will have seats set at a generous 34in pitch and featuring a 10.6in screen, variable leg-rest positions and a four-way-adjustable headrest. The airline plans to unveil its A330 first-class offering in July.
Every passenger will have access to the OnAir onboard GSM service, supporting voice calls and text messaging, e-mail and Internet access via mobile phones and laptops.
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This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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