Airline iPod integration deal not yet final, according to airlines

Posted November 16, 2006 at 06:03 PM by Doug Berger

Section: News, Audio, Accessories, Portable Audio, Gadgets / Other, Transportation, Portable Video

We just posted the article Apple partners up with major airlines for iPod integration, and now Apple’s already got themselves into trouble with the announcement.  According the AppleInsider, two of the six airlines included in Apple’s press release yesterday to include iPod features on their airplanes, have not yet finalized the deal with Apple.

Reuters: “It’s way too early to confirm any such details,” said an Air France spokeswoman, referring to the iPod seat connectivity and a mid-2007 availability date.

Reuters: “It’s very premature what Apple are saying,” said a KLM spokesman, noting that there have been “informal contacts” between Apple and the airline.

United spokesperson Graham Atkinson, executive vice president and chief customer officer, also was quoted saying that the iPod integration features have a “significant value in offering a superior in-flight entertainment experience to our first- and business-class customers during their international flights.” I don’t doubt that these deals will come through, but this is still quite embarrassing for Apple.

Read [Reuters] Via [AppleInsider] Image courtesy Tom Bukowski.