Arinc has jumped into the crowded market for wireless Internet access in airline cabins with the unveiling of its new Cabin Connect suite of products, using Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband connection. The new service will allow passengers to connect online with their own portable electronic devices, through either free access provided by the airlines or prepayment when they buy their tickets.
Other new projects at Arinc–a long-established flight-planning and data specialist–include integrating electronic flight bags into the cockpits of Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific’s airplanes, as well as introducing new self-service check-in kiosks at smaller airports such as Belfast City in Northern Ireland, and expanding its GlobaLink VHF datalink network, concentrating on boosting coverage in Asia. It has also won a contract with Spanish carrier Vueling for its Acars [aircraft crew addressing and reporting system] message management service.
