Emirates upgrades IFE system and raises the bar with ICE

The new ICE system is featured on bigger, much wider, and digitally-enhanced screens  throughout the aircraft

The award-winning entertainment is now screened on 27-inch in First Class, 20-inch in Business Class and 12.1 inch in Economy Class-an increase from the 10.9 inch screen-making the latter the biggest in the world. Additionally, Emirates’ new screens feature high definition (HD) resolution, developed by Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), making it one of the world’s first commercial airlines to install such state-of-the-art technology. With the new cutting-edge HD-enabled screens, Emirates passengers will now enjoy video content in bright, vivid colour and ultra-sharp detail.

The new hardware will complement Emirates new, enhanced Graphical User Interface (GUI), developed by Panasonic and Emirates, which was recently launched and designed specifically to make content and system features easier to navigate; bringing the huge range of choice across information, communication and entertainment to the passenger’s fingertips. Through a choice of over 1300 channels of entertainment, including over 300 movies from around the world, hundreds of TV choices and thousands of music tracks from contemporary to classical, ice Digital Widescreen provides passengers with one of the world’s best inflight experiences.

Industry analyst Saj Ahmad said: "Emirates investment in its Boeing 777 fleet stands out for two key reasons. First is that the airplane is the backbone of its long haul fleet and by extension, adding in new in flight entertainment systems that deliver High Definition programming and services will serve to enrich the passenger experience. Secondly, it has become quite apparent to Emirates that their deliveries of A350-900s will be significantly delayed and therefore the airline has elected to modernise its entire 777 fleet, some of the early models which will now be in service until 2016 and beyond so they're investing in a homogenous product across its 777 fleet.

“The new in-flight capabilities will also be added to their 777-300ERs as well as the 50 777-300ERs they ordered last November at the Dubai Air Show. This investment means that Emirates becomes the second airline after flydubai to offer touch screen HD services to passengers and it won't be long before others in the GCC region, as well as the world, follow this path."

The technology is impressive.

The GUI, which is unique to Emirates, includes a wide range of advanced capabilities that enhances the distinctiveness and elegance of Emirates’ inflight system, ice Digital Widescreen. The new experience includes the ability to move around the entertainment system by “swiping” or “scrolling”, just like a consumer tablet device and discovering the vast library of media and entertainment that is available on Emirates, send SMS and email messages, explore the moving map application, watch the in-flight landscape cameras, and access live text news.

The enhanced screens and GUI will be introduced on all new Boeing 777 joining the Emirates fleet and subsequently over the next year on Emirates’ A380 aircraft. The system will be available in all classes of service, an Emirates standard. 

“Emirates’ goal is to ensure maximum comfort and choice for passengers during their in-flight entertainment, communications and inflight experience,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates executive vice president, operations and engineering. “In this, like other areas of its operation, Emirates seeks to lead the industry; enabling our customers to get the very most out of their Emirates journey.”