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Gulf Air Selects Panasonic Avionics Corporation's Global Communications Suite for In-Flight Broadband Connectivity and Mobile Phone Service

Gulf Air to Become the First Airline in the World to Offer Full On-Board Connectivity to Passengers

Gulf Air is the First Airline to Launch Live Television - eXTV
Le Bourget, Paris 21^st June 2011- Gulf Air , the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain today announced that it has selected Panasonic Avionics Corporation's (Panasonic) Global Communications Suite for worldwide in-flight broadband connectivity, mobile phone service and live television programming. Once the final terms are agreed upon, Panasonic will install its broadband Ku solution eXConnect, eXPhone and the eXTV live television network across the entire Gulf Air Fleet.

The retrofitting will be implemented progressively across the airline's fleet beginning in September 2011 and will take two years to complete.

Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Mr. Samer Majali said, " Gulf Air is moving forward with its new strategy of re-fleeting and introducing high quality products and services that bring a new dimension to our customers' travel experience. It is imperative, therefore, that our fleet, both current and future, is fitted with state-of-the-art entertainment and communications systems."

"We have selected global leader Panasonic 's Global Communications Suite after evaluating several other systems that would meet our requirement and fit in with our new strategy. This is a perfect choice as it not only offers our customers a technologically superior, integrated voice, video, data, telephony and television programmes - all in hi-speed broadband connectivity - but also assures our passengers of a consistently a high quality product across our fleet. I am sure our passengers will be experiencing a refreshing change onboard that they wouldn't have seen before," he concluded.

Added Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic , " Panasonic is honored to announce Gulf Air as a customer for our Global Communications Suite; it is obvious that both companies share the same belief that broadband connectivity will fundamentally change IFEC in terms of passenger experience and operational efficiency."

"With our Global Communications Suite, Gulf Air will be able to create a deeply immersive, content-rich environment like nothing their passengers have experienced before. With applications and services such as live television, social networking, and much more - all backed by the ability to optimize and troubleshoot the system in real time-- we believe that Gulf Air will set a new standard for in-flight entertainment."

For the first time in the world, passengers will be able to enjoy an avant-garde, cutting-edge experience onboard in a fully integrated broadband connectivity that offers high speed internet, 3G-4G mobile data speed connectivity, voice over the internet (VOIP), streaming videos and the world's first in-flight live TV satellite stream across continents.

Soon, business passengers will be able to enjoy unlimited virtual private network (VPN), stay fully connected while watching live-news and stock market updates; sports fans can watch their favourite football and other matches in real-time through the world's first in-flight live TV satellite streaming across continents while chatting with their friends.

Panasonic 's eXConnect provides two-way broadband connectivity supporting a wide range of passenger and crew applications, including Internet access, voice, data, and the ability to monitor and transmit airline operational data in real time at speeds of up to 50 Mbps to the aircraft.

The company's eXPhone, offered in collaboration with AeroMobile's award winning in-flight mobile phone technology means that at 20,000ft, passengers can stay in touch with loved ones, keep up to date and on top of work just as if they were on the ground. In an increasingly connected world, eXPhone allows passengers to use their mobile, Smartphone or BlackBerry to call, text, email, browse and use their applications throughout the flight. With nothing to do for customers except for turning on their devices, eXPhone mobile data also works with GSM-enabled tablets and laptops.

Pål Bjørdal, AeroMobile's President and CEO, said: "We are delighted to confirm Gulf Air as our 10th announced customer. AeroMobile offers strong connectivity throughout the Middle East through its network of roaming partners, and this continues to increase all the time. This development is further endorsement of KU Band and the excellent bandwidth it offers, which is a requirement for today's advanced handsets."

Panasonic 's eXTV television network delivers high-quality, television programming to passengers during their flight. It will provide live, uninterrupted content to aircraft flying all over the world, even over oceans. The service will offer several global channels as well as regional channels.

-Ends-

About Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world's leading supplier of in-flight entertainment and communication systems. The company's best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling airlines to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs.

Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC). Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 3,100 employees and operations in 80 locations worldwide, it serves over 200 customers worldwide and provides IFEC systems on over 3,700 aircraft. For additional information, please visit www.panasonic.aero.

About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is the proud national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. As a pioneering airline in the Middle East region with sixty years of experience and expertise in flying people across continents, Gulf Air is today one of the most powerful brands and a name to reckon with in the global aviation industry.

One of the prime objectives of Gulf Air is to connect Bahrain to the Middle East countries and the rest of the world. As such the airline currently operates the largest network in the Middle East with non-stop flights while providing seamless onward connections to other international destinations. The airline's current network stretches from Europe to Asia, connecting 49 cities in 32 countries, with a fleet of 35 aircraft.

In tune with the Kingdom's economic blue print, 'Vision 2030', Gulf Air 's strategy is to build an efficient, commercially sustainable and dynamic airline that effectively serves the people and the economy of Bahrain and represents the Kingdom on the world stage. Reflecting the needs and aspirations of its customers, the strategy focuses on three core areas: a targeted, more focused international network, a superior, more consistent product and a modern, more efficient fleet that will optimize value. However, Gulf Air 's goal remains unchanged; its commitment to the latest aviation technology complemented by its hallmark Arabian hospitality for which the airline is well known.

For more information please visit www.gulfair.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Katherine Kaczynska
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Gulf Air Tel: +973 17338416 - +973 36500292
Email: katherine.kaczynska@gulfair.com

Brian Bardwell
Telephone: +1(949) 462-1742

© Press Release 2011