United Airlines has become the first airline to publicly tout its ability to let premium passengers play music and video content from their own Apple iPod personal electronic devices (PEDs) over the carrier's Panasonic Avionics-made in-flight entertainment systems.
The US major is in the process of equipping the premium cabins of its entire international widebody fleet with fully lie-flat beds, as part of a $165 million revamp of its business travel offering.
Each IFE platform provides a 390mm (15.4in) widescreen flat panel monitor with an on-demand digital video and music system that offers multiple selections of movies, TV programmes and video games. United will also offer 50 channels of XM-branded audio content, delivering more than 3,000 songs and a jukebox to create customised play lists.
Installations have begun and modifications on United's 97 international widebodies are due to be completed by late 2009.