JetBlue will introduce the Airbus A321 Long Range single-aisle aircraft with the Airspace by Airbus interior to its fleet for the airline’s highly anticipated transatlantic service. (Business Wire)
JetBlue is adding an in-flight live sports streaming platform, Sport 24, to its new fleet of Airbus A321LR aircraft that are on track to begin the New York-based carrier’s first transatlantic flights to London later this year.
Sport 24, a 24-hour live sports platform provided to JetBlue by Panasonic Avionics, will be streamed to passengers using the airline’s existing Viasat in-flight connectivity system. The airline first started operating the Airbus A321LR in 2018 and plans to launch transatlantic service on the new aircraft to London later this year.
“This reinforces Panasonic’s ability to offer its services to any airline, on any in-flight connectivity provider,” Ken Said, CEO of Panasonic Avionics said in an April 6 press release.
Panasonic’s selection by JetBlue to provide Sport24 for its A321s comes several months after the in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) provider renewed its agreement with sports and media management firm IMG. Per the terms of the agreement, Panasonic is the exclusive in-flight provider of IMG’s Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra channels, to any airline, regardless of the connectivity service they use.
“JetBlue’s commitment to our customers’ onboard experience is one we take extremely seriously,” Mariya Stoyanova, director of product development for JetBlue said in a statement. “Installing this award-winning live sports platform on our new international fleet of A321LRs will ensure they remain entertained and connected at 30,000 feet.”
JetBlue passengers will be able to watch Sport24 on the A321LR’s seatback screens, shown here. (JetBlue)
The fleet of A321LRs is also receiving all of the other cabin interior upgrades being rolled out across JetBlue’s entire A320 fleet, including upgrades to the Thales AVANT IFE system and Viasat-2 connectivity. These will also be the first single-aisle A320 family aircraft to feature the Airspace cabin from Airbus, with new LED lighting and touchless features.
One new feature that will also be unique to the airline’s London-bound A321s is the ability to order customized meals through their seatback screens. Under a new partnership with New York City-based restaurant group Dig, passengers will be able to digitally customize the new complimentary meal service.
“We know all too well the pain points of international flying – the dreaded center section, the ‘choice’ of assembly-line chicken or beef, and the lack of connectivity,” Jayne O’Brien, head of marketing and loyalty at JetBlue said in a statement. “JetBlue is ready to change all that with our take on transatlantic travel where you are well taken care of and fully connected if you want to be.”
JetBlue plans on announcing which London airport it will fly to and when its transatlantic service will begin “at a later date,” the airline said.