Emirates has announced it has signed an agreement with Thales to equip its Boeing 777X fleet with Thales AVANT in-flight entertainment system.

The airline will work in partnership with Thales to develop and enhance the state-of-the-art inflight entertainment and connectivity system to be fitted on its new Boeing 777X aircraft due for delivery starting in mid-2020.

This major investment underscores Emirates’ continued commitment to providing the best possible passenger experience, and its strategy to ensure the best and latest technology complements its young and modern fleet.

“Our partnership with Thales represents a significant investment and emphasis on customer experience, which has always been a priority for us.

“The new Boeing 777X aircraft will herald a new era for the Emirates fleet, and we want to ensure that our product offering on these fuel-efficient planes will be a benchmark for the industry, including the inflight entertainment experience.

“We look forward to revealing more details when the time is right,” said Adel Al Redha, executive vice president and chief operations officer, Emirates Airline.

He added: “In addition to customers, the size and long-term nature of this deal also benefits the broader aviation industry, and we are pleased that this new partnership will help support thousands of highly skilled jobs across the Thales ecosystem - in France and elsewhere around the world.”

The deal covers IFEC systems for Emirates’ first 50 Boeing 777X aircraft. The airline has a firm order of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft.

The new Thales AVANT system will feature an innovative and highly customisable user experience, providing a further boost to Emirates’ award winning inflight entertainment system, ice.