Microsoft has entered into agreements with Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines that will see the former’s Surface Pro 3 tablets being adopted by the two airlines.
As per the deal, the two major commercial airlines will allot the Surface Pro 3 tablets to their pilots to help improve their efficiency; both in the cockpit and on the ground, give them access to dynamic and up-to-date information during all stages of flight like weather, wind and turbulence data as well as eliminate paper use on board its aircraft.
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According to Microsoft, Lufthansa has already purchased more than 5,000 Surface Pro 3 tablets for pilots, which will be rolled out worldwide starting February. The rollout is set to be completed by next spring.
Austrian Airlines Pilots have begun using Surface Pro 3 this month. The airline expects to have “completely paperless cockpits” by early 2015 as it expects to roll out almost 1000 Surface Pro 3s over this time period.
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“We have been clear on Microsoft’s commitment to Surface in business and with this move adopting Surface in their cockpit, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines join the growing number of commercial airlines using Surface Pro 3 to help give their pilots the best, most efficient and productive in-flight experience”, said Microsoft’s Cyril Belikoff.
Microsoft had also inked a similar deal with Delta Airlines in August 2013 to roll out 19,000 Nokia Lumia 820
Windows Phone 8 smartphones to cabin crew.
