Panasonic Avionics has opened its new China region headquarters in Hong Kong and set in place the infrastructure to support the rapidly expanding in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC) market in the region.

The announcement, made today at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hong Kong, comes 14 months after Panasonic appointed Charles Ogilvie to head its China operation. At that time, Ogilvie had been working as director of in-flight entertainment and partnerships at Virgin America.

He is known for being the creative and operational force behind the development of Virgin America's Red IFE system.

"Like elsewhere in the world, ancillary revenue strategies are being evaluated by airlines across China," says Ogilvie, who holds the title of executive director of China for Panasonic Avionics.

"This market is changing so quickly that all companies who help airlines deliver passenger experience must design their structure and products to be both flexible and dependable, which is something we've done in the establishment of this new region for Panasonic Avionics."

The opening of Panasonic's China office coincides with the company's revelation to the Flight Show Daily that it is poised to secure a Chinese customer for its Global Connectivity Suite (GCS), which is based on its eXConnect Ku-band solution.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news