Travelling sports fans will be able to follow the Rugby World Cup live on television from 30,000ft up in the air.
Gulf Air passengers can enjoy coverage of the competition in New Zealand, as well as the English Premier League (EPL) football or general news from the comfort of their seat in a new aircraft fitted out with the latest high-tech entertainment.
The national carrier of Bahrain yesterday announced it had taken delivery of the first aircraft in the world to feature live television satellite streaming across continents.
The development means passengers will no longer have to wait until they land to find out their sports team's score or the latest breaking news.
"It is another important milestone in our customer service journey," said Samer Majali, the Gulf Air chief executive.
"I am sure this avant-garde, cutting-edge technology will fundamentally change our passengers' communications and entertainment experience onboard, setting a new standard for in-flight entertainment."
Apart from the live TV service, the airline's entertainment system, called Sky Hub, will offer broadband connectivity to access internet and mobile phone services.
Competition has been heating up between Gulf carriers offering the latest in-flight technology as airlines seek to lure passengers by differentiating themselves from their rivals. Oman Air became the first airline to offer both mobile and broadband internet on its flights in August.
Etihad Airways offers a selection of films and channels and music, with 23-inch widescreen TV sets in Diamond First Class. Passengers can also make onboard telephone calls. Ice (information, communications and entertainment), Emirates Airline's system, showcases the latest films, as well as news, business and sports headlines from the BBC. Phone, SMS or email technology is also available.
Qatar Airways offers similar in-flight entertainment.
It's all a far cry from the recent past when passengers were told to switch off their mobile phones and other electronic devices for their flights.
In-flight entertainment used to mean reading a book or newspaper during the journey.
Gulf Air teamed up with the electronics firm Panasonic Avionics and the telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom to upgrade its offering.
The carrier yesterday received its first A330-200 aircraft fitted with the technology and plans to roll out the service across its entire fleet progressively.
"We are excited about our future collaboration with Gulf Air," said Olivier Baujard, the chief technology officer of Deutsche Telekom. "Together, we can now offer a new and bigger international group of customers the use of high-speed internet access also in the sky. The expansion of our Wi-Fi offering is an important element in the development of our networks."
Passengers can tune into IMG Media's television offering that includes EPL coverage, other sporting events and news channels such as BBC World News, BBC Arabic and Euronews.
AeroMobile, a phone service provider for the aviation industry, was also involved in the technology revamp.
Emirates broke new ground in 2006 when the carrier signed an agreement to become the London-based company's first customer. AeroMobile's first commercial in-flight GSM service was launched on an Emirates plane flying from Dubai to Casablanca in March 2008.
tarnold@thenational.ae
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Race card
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m
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Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now