Lori Ranson, Washington DC (16Jun08, 17:03 GMT, 146 words)
After Singapore Airlines claimed to be the first to the market in offering passengers connectivity for the Apple iPod personal electronic devices, United says it is taking the honors as the first US carrier to offer the amenity.
United today is debuting the feature on a transatlantic flight from Washington Dulles to Zurich that allows passengers to connect iPods and iPhones to its IFE system, which features a 15.4-inch widescreen flat panel monitor.
The US major has previously said it is engaging in a $165 million revamp to equip premium cabins of its international widebody fleet that includes new Panasonic IFE systems to allow iPod and iPhone connectivity in first and business class, and lie-flat beds on the aircraft.
Last month, Singapore Airlines flew its first flight offering iPod connectivity on an Airbus A340-500. The carrier is reconfiguring five of the aircraft to all-business class layouts.
Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news