United Airlines Debuts iPod Connectivity On Flights

By Lisa Johnston -- TWICE, 6/16/2008 10:43:00 AM

Chicago — United Airlines announced today that travelers can use their iPods and iPhones through the airline’s in-flight entertainment system.

United said it is the first U.S. airline to offer such a system.

With the system, users can watch individual content on a 15.4-inch personal TV via a cable with a 30-pin connector. The iPod or iPhone will reportedly charge when in use.

While the first flight using the system was scheduled to depart this evening — traveling from Washington D.C. to Zurich — the company said in a release that its entire fleet of aircrafts are being reconfigured over the next two years with iPod and iPhone connectivity in first and business class.

United said the technology for the connectivity was developed by Panasonic Avionics Corporation.