e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[LGJ]

Nov 13, 2004 - Coming to a SilkAir flight.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/storyprintfriendly/0,5578,284681,00.html?

PASSENGERS on certain SilkAir flights will soon be able to watch movies and music videos, or listen to music, using portable entertainment systems.

The service will be available from January next year, on longer flights such as to destinations in India and China.

It will be free for business class passengers, but economy class passengers must pay a fee - yet to be finalised - to enjoy it.

The portable system, designed by APS of Tacoma, Washington - a company that specialises in airline technology - comes with a 7-inch screen that weighs about 1.2kg.

The screen can be placed on meal trays for the convenience of passengers.

SilkAir's vice-president (operations), Mr Tan Siah Joo, declined to reveal how much the new system would cost the airline.

It comes about seven months after SilkAir began screening silent feature programmes, such as sports, comedies and cartoons, on flights of two hours' duration or longer.

SilkAir - the regional arm of Singapore Airlines - is facing growing competition from a slew of budget carriers that have started up in the last 18 months.

Singapore is home to two, Valuair and Tiger Airways. A third, Jetstar Asia, starts flying next month.

Mr Tan, however, denied that the moves to improve service stemmed from the budget airline threat.

He said: 'This is really in response to feedback from our passengers, who have been asking for entertainment systems especially on our longer flights.'