Lufthansa’s Discover Airlines signs up for Panasonic multi-orbit connectivity

German leisure carrier Discover Airlines will be the first Lufthansa Group unit and one of the first airlines in the world to install Panasonic Avionics’ multi-orbit connectivity product on its long-haul aircraft. Discover Airlines has already unveiled plans to introduce free and unlimited messaging on long-haul flights this summer and will now roll-out the wider connectivity solution from Panasonic on its Airbus A330s this autumn. Discover Airlines CE Bernd Bauer says: “The introduction of this new technology is a major step towards an even more digitalised flight experience and is a real upgrade for our guests. In the future, this will also open up opportunities to further personalise the entertainment programme and the service on board.” The new technology will offer passengers in-flight speeds of nearly 200Mbps for streaming, browsing, and interactive services. The Panasonic system combines connectivity from geostationary (GEO) satellites together with the low earth orbit (LEO) network from Eutelsat OneWeb. Panasonic’s vice-president of connectivity, John Wade, says: “We are proud to partner with Discover Airlines as one of the first multi-orbit customers. Our multi-orbit network has been meticulously tested and, coupled with Panasonic Avionics’ proven track record and rigorous structure, we are confident it will be a popular choice for airlines going forward.”<br/>