Friday, April 01, 2005

In an Australian first, Jetstar passengers by June will be able to watch new release and popular movies, sitcoms and music videos via a state-of-the-art “Video On Demand” portable digital entertainment system.

Example of digEplayer™

Jetstar has confirmed it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wencor / APS, a United States based airline service provider, to commence introduction of a portable In-flight Entertainment (IFE) device – the digEplayer™ – onto Airbus 320 services.

The digEplayer™ units will be supplied to Jetstar by APS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wencor – a current leader in worldwide aircraft product and parts distribution.

The digEplayer™ has the ability to offer Jetstar passengers on A320 operated flights an in-flight entertainment package that will initially be comprised of 10 movies, 8 sitcoms, 100 audio tracks as well as music videos.

``We`re glad to have Jetstar amongst the family of airlines which have chosen the digEplayer as their In-Flight Entertainment device,`` said Brent Wood, CEO and President of APS.

“The cutting edge design, ease of use and wide variety of entertainment choices on the digEplayer™ will make their customers’ flying experience better than ever.”

The wide screen format, battery operated portable players are specially designed for in-flight only use.

Jetstar passengers will be able to rent the digEplayer™ from $10 per unit for longer flights and for a lesser amount on Jetstar short haul services.

Jetstar Chief Executive Alan Joyce said digEplayer™ had been successfully introduced by a number of overseas airlines for in-flight entertainment, and Jetstar would be the first Australian domestic carrier to adopt the consumer friendly units.

Mr Joyce said the digEplayer™ units would become a new revenue source for Jetstar as the every day low fares carrier progressively made new enhancements to its overall service and product offering.

“We see the introduction of digEplayer™ as a substantial and exciting boost to our inflight product,” Mr Joyce said.

“The digEplayer™ heralds not only an enhanced in-flight service and product offering for Jetstar passengers but also represents a new avenue for revenue.

“The digEplayer™ units are planned to be progressively rolled out across Jetstar’s A320 route network from June this year.”

Mr Joyce said Jetstar would provide a complimentary disposable head set with each digEplayer™ rented in-flight.

He said the units were of a convenient size to be positioned on airline tray tables, ideally sized for an individual passenger to watch a movie or TV show.

“The digEplayer™ can be used in-flight much like a laptop computer. Our cabin crew will rent out the units after take-off and will be collected back from passengers prior to a flight’s arrival,” Mr Joyce said.

All programming on digEplayer™ supplied on Jetstar would be updated every 60 days.

APS said the digEplayer™ was recently awarded the ‘IFE Product of the Year’ award at the IPEC/LARA Conference held in London. The digEplayer™ is the world’s first self contained, hand held portable video on demand unit.

Jetstar currently operates 8 A320s and will move to an all A320 fleet by mid 2006 numbering 23 aircraft through the steady replacement of Boeing 717s, starting from mid year.