Thales and Qatar Airways partner on IFE tech and local service hub

Broadcast Pro

9 hours ago

A key component of the agreement includes the potential development of a dedicated Thales IFE service and maintenance centre in Doha.
Thales, a global leader in aerospace, defence, cybersecurity and digital technologies, has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Qatar Airways to support the airline’s recently announced strategic fleet expansion. This collaboration aims to advance inflight entertainment (IFE) technology and accelerate Qatar Airways’ digital transformation, giving the airline access to cutting-edge innovations.
In addition, this MoA covers the opportunities for the development of a dedicated IFE service and maintenance centre based in Doha, Qatar. The mission of this local Thales facility is to provide rapid access to services such as repair, spare distribution, technical assistance and turnkey maintenance for the full range of Thales IFE products on Qatar’s growing new fleet. The state-of-the-art facility will be designed to ensure the highest standards of operational efficiency.
The purpose of this MoA is to support Qatar Airways’ growth and the expansion of its new fleet. It builds on a strong and long-standing relationship between the two companies. Over the years, Thales has been Qatar Airways’ trusted IFE provider for several aircraft platforms, including their Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and Airbus A350 and A380 aircraft. This partnership was recently expanded to include Qatar Airways’ new A321 NX fleet, which will be equipped with Thales’ award-winning FlytEDGE cloud-native IFE solution.
In alignment with Qatar Vision 2030, this partnership will help drive industry-leading innovations and contribute to the growth of the local aerospace and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) ecosystem by bringing high-skilled jobs to the country.
Eng. Ali Al Saadi, Qatar Airways, Chief MRO Officer, said: “We are pleased to witness the continued advancement of our collaboration with Thales. As we strive to maintain the highest standards in aviation technology and operational excellence, it is imperative that we remain at the forefront of innovation. Our partnership with Thales reinforces this ambition and supports our ongoing commitment to delivering industry-leading solutions.”
Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President, Avionics, Thales added: “We are pleased to grow our partnership with Qatar Airways. This MOA highlights, once again, our mutual dedication to innovative technologies and the highest standards of operational excellence. It paves the way for a local service hub and growing expertise in Doha, bolstering the airline’s future growth ambitions.”