AirNet Technology’s subsidiary Air Esurfing Information Technology (ARE) has signed an agreement with technical aircraft services provider Lufthansa Technik.

Based in Beijing, China, AirNet offers in-flight solutions to connectivity, entertainment, digital multimedia and high-speed in-flight internet services for the country’s airlines.

The strategic cooperation is for in-flight connectivity retrofit packages for Chinese aircraft such as Airbus A320ceo, A320neo aircraft families, Boeing 737NG and 737MAX.

Under this agreement, Lufthansa Technik will be responsible to design and certify Ka-band-based connectivity retrofit packages.

The company will support Chinese airlines by collaborating with ARE to provide a European Union Aviation Safety Agency Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC) validated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

AirNet COO Grant Zhou said: “We are pleased to partner up with Lufthansa Technik to provide our customers with a comprehensive solution to embrace IFC ranging from design engineering and certification of connectivity solutions and provide material supply and material handling services for installations.

“This cooperation will further enhance our ability to provide a highly tailorable solution to meet the increasing growth of high-speed in-flight connectivity in China.”

Lufthansa Technik will also deliver services related to material handling for packages deployment. The package will be customised according to the needs of ARE’s airline customers.

Lufthansa Technik senior vice-president Gerald Steinhoff said: “The partnership with ARE is a significant step in Lufthansa Technik’s global focus to meet promising market demand in China. As a joint force, we shall exploit the full potentials of the Chinese market.”