Garuda Indonesia Selects SkyMediaCenter 3000
Will Outfit A330 Aircraft With Innovative Inflight Entertainment System
BREA, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/08/2004 -- Garuda Maintenance Facilities AeroAsia announced today that it has entered an agreement with Ibises International Inc. (OTC: IBSN) to install the company's SkyMediaCenter 3000 in-flight system on Garuda Indonesia's six Airbus 330 airplanes. The deal could exceed seven million dollars, depending on system options and how many seats are outfitted.
GMF AeroAsia is the maintenance subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, a growing Asian airline with a fleet of 62 aircraft. This agreement follows on the heels of Ibises' announcement last month to install SMC-3000 at the 82 business and first-class seats on Garuda's three B747-400 airplanes. The 405-passenger B747 planes will start flying with the system in April, while the 293-seat A330 airplanes will be equipped with SMC-3000 this summer. GMF plans to first outfit the A330 seat consoles in business class with LCD touch screens and then mount screens in the seat backs in economy class. Next up: GMF hopes to implement the system in Garuda's 43 B737 planes.
"This deal is significant because it proves that Ibises can deliver a superior system which can easily and quickly be installed in all types of aircraft," said Ibises CEO Carl Salas.
SMC-3000 will provide Garuda passengers with audio-video on demand (AVOD), interactive games, and the ability for in-flight shopping. The system is also enabled for e-mail, SMS text messaging, word processing, and spreadsheet applications.
"We need to meet passengers' demands with a system that offers a variety of individual entertainment options. The affordable SMC-3000 is one of the most versatile and technologically-advanced systems available," said Suwito Sastrowiryo, GMF's vp-engineering.
Ibises and GMF are also developing a non-ticket revenue model that will enable Garuda to generate sales from the passenger use of e-mail and SMS text messaging. Other future revenue models will include advertising sponsorships, which will allow companies to use in-flight screens to promote their marketing messages.
"Our goal is to help our airline partners generate higher profits using our state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system," said Salas.
About Ibises: Brea, Ca.-based Ibises is a full-service aircraft engineering, certification, security, and in-flight entertainment product development company. The cost-effective SMC-3000 system is a secure, single-box solution which delivers digital movies on demand, music, interactive games, shopping, e-mail, office productivity tools, and SMS text messaging. Future features will include satellite television and radio, voice over IP telephony, and wireless connectivity. More information is available at www.ibises.com.
