Thomas Cook Group, one of the world’s leading leisure travel companies, has selected Rockwell Collins PAVES™ 3 in-flight entertainment (IFE) for 71 new Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The selection includes the PAVES 3 High-Definition Media Server, 12” widescreen overhead monitors, and WiFi-enabled content applications and Web pages.

The announcement was made today at the Aircraft Interiors Expo® in Hamburg, Germany.

“The customer expectation for IFE has changed and will progressively change into the future. Society’s increased information and entertainment appetite requires airlines to select innovative and flexible approaches for IFE,” said Bernd Bechtel, executive vice president of Group Fleet Management for Thomas Cook Group plc.

Bechtel added, “Rockwell Collins PAVES 3 IFE solution offers an innovative platform where our customers can view mainstream entertainment and information content overhead or via WiFi on their smart phones and tablet PCs. Rockwell Collins shares our strategic direction and this will help us to remain up-to-date with the fast development within this sector.”

“Thomas Cook Group has ‘future-proofed’ its new family of aircraft with its PAVES 3 core component selection,” said Dave Austin, vice president and general manager, Cabin Systems for Rockwell Collins. “That’s the beauty of PAVES 3’s versatility ? airlines can choose IFE configurations that meet their needs now, and know they are on a unique path for future upgrades and additions.”

Rockwell Collins PAVES 3 is the only single-aisle digital IFE system to offer customizable cabin configurations. Airlines can select from a variety of overhead and in-seat monitor combinations throughout the aircraft. The HD on-demand, in-seat solution maximizes passenger and operator satisfaction with a vast range of innovative features powered by a robust operating system.

The PAVES 3 system builds upon Rockwell Collins’ industry-leading PAVES and dPAVES systems, which are installed on more than 2,000 aircraft, and includes dramatic reductions in size, weight and power consumption. The system is available as a forward fit option or can be installed as an upgrade to existing PAVES and dPAVES systems to bring in-seat capabilities to those aircraft.

Rockwell Collins press release