Thales AVANT Up Powers American’s New 787-9 Fleet with Ultra-Responsive 4K Touchscreens and Vision-Friendly Features

Thales AVANT Up Powers American’s New 787-9 Fleet with Ultra-Responsive 4K Touchscreens and Vision-Friendly Features

(IN BRIEF) American Airlines has rolled out its first Boeing 787-9 featuring Thales’ AVANT Up IFE, the carrier’s first of 30 such aircraft arriving by 2029. The system boasts ultra-responsive 4K QLED HDR screens, 60 W USB-C and USB-A fast-charging ports, Bluetooth audio connectivity, and interactive features like Watch Party, Picture-in-Picture, and console gaming. Notably, American is the first in the Americas to implement Thales’ accessible user interface—complete with audio cues, voice metadata, and gesture controls—for passengers with vision impairments. Heather Garboden, American’s Chief Customer Officer, emphasized the premium focus on design and functionality, while Thales CEO Niels Steenstrup highlighted the long-standing partnership and commitment to next-generation inflight entertainment.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 24-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — American Airlines has introduced its first Boeing 787-9 equipped with Thales’ AVANT Up Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system, marking the beginning of a 30-aircraft rollout scheduled through 2029. Debuting on 5 June 2025, the premium-configured jet operated its inaugural flight from Chicago O’Hare to Los Angeles before launching Flagship Suite® service nonstop to London Heathrow. As the first oneworld carrier in the Americas to deploy Thales’ next-generation IFE, American is elevating the onboard experience with award-winning accessibility features and cutting-edge entertainment technology.

The AVANT Up system delivers unparalleled visual clarity via 4K QLED HDR touchscreens that respond instantly to passenger commands. Each seatback display is outfitted with 60 W USB-C and USB-A fast-charging ports to keep devices fully powered, plus Bluetooth pairing for wireless audio. Passengers can seamlessly browse American’s extensive entertainment library, participate in interactive Watch Party sessions, toggle Picture-in-Picture views, and even enjoy console-style gaming.

American Airlines is the first carrier in the Americas to offer Thales’ visually impaired–friendly user interface, which combines audio-cue navigation, voice-feedback metadata, gesture-based controls, and a curated selection of audio-descriptive content to ensure an inclusive travel experience.

“Every aspect of our new 787-9 is designed to feel premium in nature,” said Heather Garboden, American’s Chief Customer Officer. “From the sleek cabin aesthetics to intuitive Bluetooth connectivity and state-of-the-art entertainment, we’ve tailored each element around our customers’ needs.”

Niels Steenstrup, CEO of Thales InFlyt Experience, added, “Our 15-year partnership with American Airlines testifies to a shared vision for extraordinary inflight experiences. We’re honored to power American’s newest flagship aircraft with the revolutionary AVANT Up system.”

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SOURCE: Thales