Etihad to screen live inflight TV, sport and Formula 1 Grand Prix
By David Flynn, October 30 2013
In a move that's certain to please F1 fans, Etihad Airways will begin screening live TV including the final three rounds of the 2013 Formula One season on selected international flights this weekend.
It's perfectly timed for this Sunday's round of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which takes place at Abu Dhabi and is sponsored by Etihad Airways.
This will be followed by the final two races of the 2013 Formula 1 season – the US Grand Prix on Sunday November 17, and the Brazil Grand Prix on Sunday November 24.
Four live TV channels – BBC World News, BBC Arabic, euronews and Sport 24 – will be available from November 1.
They'll be followed by CNN, CNBC and Japan’s NHK World Premium later in November, with Sky News Arabia "in the coming months."
As to which aircraft will feature live TV, and which routes they'll fly: the satellite TV feed is available on Etihad's big Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s fitted with Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite.
This includes the airline's A330 on Brisbane-Abu Dhabi route, as well as the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi route from December when it will be upgraded to a Boeing 777 and sometimes the Boeing 777 on the Sydney-Abu Dhabi route.
The total tally will see the service available on 21 Etihad Airways widebody aircraft by November 7, which will increase to 37 widebody aircraft by the end of 2014, Etihad says.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
13 Dec 2011
Total posts 28
I like that you've chosen an image of Arsenal FC...which is sponsored by Emirates and play at the Emirates Stadium.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
LOL! Well Etihad didn't supply any images with their press release so our choice of suitable images (besides Yet Another Shot of A Plane) was pretty limited!
Virgin Atlantic Airways - Flying Club (Gold)
24 Jul 2013
Total posts 14
Hopefully they choose not to use Channel 10's awful 'coverage' - the delay in broadcasting the race could mean that passengers on the Monday morning flight stand more chance of watching the 2 hour 'coverage', hosted by 2 chumps in suits and the relic that is Alan Jones
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Etihad to screen live inflight TV, sport and Formula 1 Grand Prix