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Lufthansa Systems builds the world's largest infotainment system for the new ships of market leader AIDA Cruises
Lufthansa Systems and AIDA Cruises today presented the world's largest fully digital, mobile infotainment system in Hamburg. The system, which comprises 1,522 monitors and 1,815 telephones, will enable passengers on AIDA cruise ships to benefit from all opportunities offered by modern information and communications technology even during cruises. No less than 22,000 meters of data lines were required to connect the components for the test run in the 1,000 square meter staging center.
Lufthansa Systems will equip a total of four AIDA cruise ships with this state-of-the-art infotainment system. The first ship is already under construction and will be commissioned in spring 2007. The new system will deliver new entertainment offers and even more convenience to passengers and at the same time help faciliate on-board processes.
The more than 2,000 passengers of the new AIDA ships will be able to use all information and communication tools at sea that they have grown accustomed to in their everyday lives. "A mobile infotainment system of this scale is a world first," said Dr. Gunter Küchler, member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Systems AG. "It once agains underscores our innovative capabilities and our technological leadership in this important market."
From their cabins, passengers can access the Internet as well as an on-board intranet with current travel information, which can be used to book on-shore excursions and shopping trips and to view their current billing data. Passengers will be able to use e-mail, receive a variety of radio and television programs, enjoy their favorite movies and music (on-demand audio and video) and stay in touch with their loved ones at home via satellite. Cutting-edge IP telephony is used for communication on board. "Our goal is to offer our passengers an extraordinary holiday experience," said Michael Thamm, President of AIDA Cruises. "This also includes the opportunity to benefit from the full range of information, communication and entertainment services that are part of today's modern way of life."
The system was jointly developed by Lufthansa Systems and its partner, TOMORROW FOCUS Technologies, especially for use in mobile environments such as airplanes, ships or buses. The use of carefully selected standard components makes the system very fault-tolerant while also offering great flexibility with regard to expansion and the integration of new technologies. At the same time, it is user friendly, easy to maintain and cost-efficient to operate.
Note to editors:
Lufthansa Systems is one of the leading IT service providers for the airline and aviation industries worldwide. As systems integrator, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group covers the entire range of IT services, including consulting, development, implementation and operation. Lufthansa Systems provides its IT infrastructure and operations services to a variety of industries. Headquartered in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt/Main, Germany, the company has branches in Germany and 17 countries and employs about 4,550 people worldwide. In business year 2005, Lufthansa Systems recorded sales of EUR 635 million.
With sales of EUR 375 million and 233,000 passengers in 2005, AIDA Cruises is number one in the German sea travel market. As a combined shipping company and tour operator, the company operates and markets the four club cruise ships of the AIDA line, AIDAcara, AIDAvita, AIDAaura and AIDAblu, with a total capacity of some 5,400 beds. The fleet is scheduled to grow further as four new-generation cruise ships will be built by the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, for EUR 1.3 billion by 2010. The first new ship, AIDAdiva, will be commissioned on April 20, 2007. The AIDA ships serve destinations such as the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, Central America, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean and the Persian Gulf.
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