JetBlue Airways subsidiary LiveTV is in talks with airframers to make its latest generation live television system, LTV3, offerable as original equipment on new aircraft.
The company currently conducts retrofits on its customers' aircraft. It maintains a large hangar at Orlando International Airport, where generally most of the work takes place.
However, with next year's introduction of LTV3 - a system that will initially support 80 channels of satellite television - it would make sense "to have it offerable" on the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft as well as other aircraft, says LiveTV VP of marketing and sales Mike Moeller.
"We're talking to everybody," says Moeller. "That would be preferred if it came out offerable."
LiveTV's first and second generation systems are already flying on a number of aircraft types. Canada's WestJet has LiveTV systems installed on its fleet of Boeing 737s. JetBlue offers live television on both its A320s and Embraer 190s.
Continental Airlines is LiveTV's newest customer and will begin offering satellite programming on a large portion of its Boeing narrowbody fleet beginning early next year.
Meanwhile, Brazilian start-up Azul - the brainchild of JetBlue founder David Neeleman - will offer live television on its fleet of E-190s and E-195s.
With respect to Azul, Moeller says an antenna to support the system on Azul's aircraft has been selected, although a vendor announcement has not yet been made. LiveTV admits it is contributing to the design.
Azul has reportedly received Brazilian certification and intends to launch operations in December, slightly earlier than the originally-planned January start date. An Azul spokesman would not confirm the report, saying only that the carrier is "on track for launch".
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
