Continental to Provide DirecTV Service on 200+ Aircraft
Continental Airlines completed the installation of DirectTV in 18 of its aircraft as part of a new service that gives domestic fliers 77 channels of live television programming.
The airline will now install the service in its entire fleet of more than 200 Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft and the Boeing 757-300. It joins JetBlue, Virgin America, Frontier, and Delta as airlines offering in flight television service. (JetBlue, Virgin America, and Frontier offer it on all of their flights; Delta offers it on 96 of its aircraft.)
The new system includes in-seat power ports that do not require the use of an adapter.
In addition to live television, the entertainment system provides previously recorded premium movies, sitcoms, dramas, with a moving map to be added later.
First-class customers will receive access to the system free of charge; economy class passengers will have to pay $6 per flight.
Continental expects to complete the installation by the early 2011.