Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways today unveiled its next generation inflight entertainment system onboard its newly-delivered Boeing 777 aircraft offering every passenger more than 700 entertainment options.

Rebranded Oryx Entertainment ‘Multiplex in the Sky’, there are more than 150 international movies, 150 hours of TV programming, over 50 games and 500 audio CDs for passengers to choose from.

Passengers have greater control of their entertainment from the comfort of their seat, by listening and watching on demand programmes at the time of their choice.

Qatar Airways is among a select-few airlines to adopt the Panasonic eX2 system – the most comprehensive inflight entertainment system in the aviation industry today –designed to give passengers the widest choice of interactive audio and video entertainment at 35,000 feet.

Passengers are able to choose their entertainment options either through touch screen seat back TV monitors or browse channels using handsets installed in each seat. The system has a unique onscreen graphic user interface allowing passengers to navigate in any one of eight languages.

The flag carrier of the State of Qatar took delivery of the first of its 32 Boeing 777s aircraft today with the Dash 300 Extended Range version flying into Doha International Airport direct from the US company’s Seattle manufacturing base.

The first B777 aircraft is equipped with 335 seats split into two cabins. In Business Class there are 42 seats, each with 15.4-inch seat back wide TV screens, while Economy Class features 293 seats with each TV screen measuring 10.6 inches, all offering optimum viewing.

Qatar Airways has opted for exciting inflight programming content from around the world for the new-look Oryx Entertainment. From comedy, dramas and children’s programmes, to sport, documentaries and movies stretching from Hollywood to Bollywood, the choice is wide and varied.

A special tie-up with the National Geographic Channel, History Channel and E! Entertainment gives Qatar Airways unprecedented access to a multitude of fascinating programming covering adventure, events that have changed the world and the latest news from Hollywood, respectively.

To celebrate the launch of Oryx Entertainment, Qatar Airways is showcasing the entire collection of 21 James Bond films onboard – from the first 007 movie, Dr No, starring Sean Connery to Casino Royale, featuring Daniel Craig.

Passengers will have ample opportunity to watch the entire collection as it will be available onboard throughout 2008.

Qatar Airways has also introduced a new entertainment section called Discover More featuring short, fun, trivia guides of How To…where passengers can learn, for example, how to tie a bow tie; how to pull a tablecloth from under a dinner service; how to eat sushi; how to remember people’s names; how to perform the perfect golf swing – and even how to cut a mango!

There will also be an opportunity to learn a host of languages through the Berlitz on-screen language guide and passengers can also read comprehensive books in minutes through the Executive Book Summaries guide.

In addition, there are more than 50 interactive games enabling passengers to either play on their own from the comfort of their seats, or with a fellow passenger sitting elsewhere on the aircraft. And a wide variety of artistes from around the world help complement the 500-plus music CD jukebox selection available onboard.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said today marked an important day in the history of the airline with the delivery of its first Boeing aircraft – and with it a new interactive inflight entertainment system to be proud of.

“In today’s highly competitive aviation industry, airlines are pushing the boundaries to be ahead of the rest,” he said.

“Aircraft are flying longer distances non-stop, inflight service levels are being raised to the highest standards as passengers are becoming more demanding. Qatar Airways always strives to be the best, which is why we continue to invest heavily in new aircraft and now, introduce a brand new entertainment system.”

He added: “With so many options available through the new Oryx Entertainment, we are confident that our passengers will be fully satisfied with the choice onboard making their journey even more enjoyable and memorable.”

The new-look entertainment system will gradually be phased in across the airline’s fleet of Boeing 777 passenger aircraft as they are delivered over the next three years.

Qatar Airways’ first Boeing 777 will be deployed on the Doha – Washington route from January 2008, by which time the airline takes delivery of its second Boeing 777. Until then the aircraft will fly selected regional routes across the Middle East.

As one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 59 aircraft to 80 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Far East, Indian subcontinent and North America.

The launch of the US flights was the highlight of Qatar Airways’ route expansion programme during 2007, which has already seen Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Chennai, Geneva, Nagpur and Stockholm added to the carrier’s burgeoning network.