Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. today commented on the decision made by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight. According to the FAA, as a result of the decision, passengers will eventually be able to read e-books, play games, and watch videos on their devices during all phases of flight, with very limited exceptions.

“This is a great development for the airline industry, for our Company and for the millions of travelers we serve,” said John LaValle, Chief Executive Officer. “This decision will allow passengers to expand their use of our Wi-Fi service, as well as our industry-leading content offerings, including Hollywood’s top films, live TV programming, games and e-books, immediately upon entering the plane. This will result in a more pleasurable experience for all passengers who wish to stay connected to the web and use their portable electronic devices to enjoy the entertainment they love.
“Our approach from the beginning was to have a system that works everywhere at all times, a strong differentiator for our company,” Mr. LaValle continued. “This decision is a tremendous complement to our strategy of having our Wi-Fi service continuously operable, including on the ground. Given our proven Ku-band satellite powered inflight connectivity system and content portal, we are well positioned to work with our airline partners to further upgrade the passenger experience.”