Cathay Pacific Inflight Entertainment Rated World's Best

Cathay Pacific Inflight Entertainment Rated World's Best

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Cathay Pacific Airways today announced its inflight entertainment system has been named the world's best, lifting the title for "Best Inflight Video Programming - Long Haul" in the prestigious 17th Annual Avion Awards, presented by in Hamburg, Germany, by the World Airline Entertainment Association.

The WAEA represents nearly 100 airlines and over 250 airline suppliers and related companies, committed to excellence in inflight entertainment. The judging panel was drawn from the publishing, recording, and television/film industries and assessed originality, suitability, production value, content, and balance.

Cathay Pacific's StudioCX inflight entertainment system offers more than 20 entertainment channels through personal televisions installed in every seat. The airline's audio and video on demand system also offers First and Business Class passengers on long-haul flights the choice of more than 350 hours of programming.

The award came as Cathay Pacific is about to commence the rollout of an even better new-generation StudioCX inflight entertainment system user interface across its fleet. The new interactive incorporates more intuitive navigation through movies, music, information and short feature programming plus a few new "little things" designed to make passengers' entertainment experience more pleasurable. The new interface will start to appear in November and will be on all aircraft in January 2006.

New screen functions offer passengers swifter access to entertainment, information about their destination and other things such as inflight shopping and guides in the use of inflight phones and email. Entertainment offerings can also be grouped according to language.

First and Business Class Passengers can create their own inflight "juke box" -- a new feature that enables people to compile their own music play list from 100 CDs. New touches in Economy Class include a clock indicating the remaining time to when programming on each channel will recommence. New-style organic screen graphics will appear throughout.

Cathay Pacific Manager Inflight Communication & Entertainment Katherine Lo said: "Cathay Pacific's inflight entertainment uniquely combines cutting edge and all-time favourite programming. A broad range of content, some of it exclusive to the airline, caters for a broad spectrum of passengers' viewing and listening interests. The Avion award highlights our dedication to deliver the high standard of service to all our passengers."

Cathay Pacific's StudioCX inflight entertainment system offers more than 20 entertainment channels through personal televisions installed in every seat.

About Cathay Pacific:

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited is one of the world's leading passenger and cargo airlines, serving more than one million customers a month to Asia, Europe and North America. The carrier offers daily non-stop service to Hong Kong and beyond from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Founded in Hong Kong in 1946, Cathay Pacific is privately held, with UK-based The Swire Group holding a 45% share in the company. Cathay Pacific is a member of the oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Finnair, Iberia, Lan Chile and Aer Lingus.

* Cathay Pacific was voted "Airline of the Year 2005" in the world's largest passenger poll conducted by UK-based Skytrax Research.

Source: Cathay Pacific Airways

CONTACT: Kelly Monks, Communications & Marketing Services Manager, Americas of Cathay Pacific, +1-415-848-2021, or www.cathayUSA.com

Web site: http://www.cathay-usa.com/

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