Croatia Airlines is due to take delivery of its first of fifteen Airbus A220 aircraft in around two months, with the carrier preparing to unveil a host of onboard upgrades for passengers. One of the biggest innovations will be the availability of wireless connectivity. The carrier has selected Panasonic Avionics for its inflight WiFi, opting for the technology company’s Ku-band antenna, which became available on the market only last year. This includes support for both LEO (low earth orbit) and GEO (geostationary orbit) satellite networks, higher speed throughput, greater aerodynamic efficiency, gate-to-gate operations, and reduced operating costs. Panasonic’s customers include Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, United, Egyptair and Icelandair, to name a few.
Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, said, “We are thrilled to announce the introduction of onboard connectivity for the first time in our 35-year history, coinciding with the arrival of the A220 aircraft. This agreement with Panasonic Avionics aligns with our mission to enhance the in-flight passenger experience and deliver top quality connectivity to our valued customers”. Apart from WiFi availability, the carrier will feature its own digital content which will be available to passengers through the airline’s application, accessible while airborne. Croatia Airlines’ A220-100s will have the capacity to seat 127 passengers, while the A220-300s will welcome 148 customers in a two by three seat layout.
Each seat on Croatia Airlines’ A220s will feature USB A and USB C ports, as well as smartphone and tablet holders. The aircraft’s spacious overhead compartments, the largest for a jet its size, will allow for every passenger to accommodate one roller bag. “We have been continually working on increasing the quality of our service”, Mr Bajić noted. Croatia Airlines has not specified the exact arrival date of its first A220 jet, however, it is expected in June, with the second by the end of the year. The aircraft are yet to be scheduled for deployment. The Croatian flag carrier also plans to unveil its redesigned branding with the arrival of its first jet, with an emphasis to be put on revamping the carrier’s logo. Croatia Airlines’ initial logo was chosen in an international competition in 1993, while the carrier’s existing livery was adopted in 2004.
