New Delhi, Apr 21, (CXO Media): Air India has signed a 10-year agreement with Thales to maintain inflight entertainment systems across 57 aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet upgrade efforts.
Under the agreement, Thales will handle line maintenance, repairs, spare parts supply and logistics support for inflight entertainment (IFE) systems installed on Airbus and Boeing aircraft operated by Air India. The services will be provided from Thales facilities located at Delhi and Mumbai airports, which is expected to help reduce downtime and speed up servicing requirements.
The contract also covers 12 newly added widebody aircraft that are equipped with Thales’ AVANT UP in-flight entertainment system. These aircraft are part of Air India’s broader fleet renewal programme, which includes upgrading onboard passenger-facing systems along with aircraft interiors.
Airlines have been increasing focus on onboard digital systems as passenger demand for connected services continues to grow, particularly on long-haul routes. In-flight entertainment systems require regular maintenance due to continuous usage and the complexity of onboard hardware.
Air India said the partnership is intended to strengthen its engineering support structure and improve availability of spare components. Thales, which has supplied inflight entertainment systems to multiple global airlines, will continue to support the airline’s existing systems under the long-term service arrangement.
