AirFi, a Hague-based developer of portable aircraft cabin technologies, has partnered with United Enterprise (UE), an aviation products distributor based in Guangzhou, China. The joint enterprise, named AirFi China, is expected to expand sales of AirFi’s portfolio in China, including the AirFi box portable wireless IFE streaming solution, Connected Crew mPOS solutions for onboard retail, and AirFi LEO low-bandwidth connectivity technology.
AirFi points out that in a 2023 report, Boeing predicted that China would account for 20% of the global demand for new aircraft between now and 2042. Furthermore, Airbus forecasts that China will overtake Europe and North America, to become the top global market for aviation services, worth US$54.1 billion, across the same period. This makes it a good moment to strengthen marketing of products and services to the Chinese aviation market.
“No two global regions are alike. This is why the AirFi growth strategy has always included branded partners who understand the nuances of doing business in their home markets,” commented Job Heimerikx, CEO of AirFi.
“United Enterprise is a very well-established player in China, with a vast network of customers and broad experience in aircraft OEM projects, aftermarket sales and distribution, MRO and more,” continued Heimerikx. “We look forward to growing AirFi’s presence in the Chinese market together.”
AirFi China has plans to adapt and evolve the AirFi product portfolio to better suit the unique culture and business architectures of China. For example, work is underway to integrate the backbone technology of AirFi’s in-seat ordering capability with AliPay, and to enable payment via QR codes, to reflect the most popular payment methods in this region.
“We see a great need for such innovation in the Chinese aviation sector,” added Angie Peng, business development manager at United Enterprise. “It is expected that the market response to AirFi China will be strong, and we are excited about short- and long-term opportunities for mutual development. We have already begun marketing AirFi solutions in the region, with positive responses.”
AirFi China joins a roster of AirFi branded partners around the world, which include AirFi America, AirFi Vietnam, AirFi Indonesia and AirFi Japan.
