Air China launches live in-flight TV broadcasts by streaming Beijing’s military parade

China’s flag carrier airline launched its first in-flight live television broadcast on Thursday by streaming pictures showing Beijing’s huge military parade that marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war, mainland media reports.

However, passengers aboard an Air China Flight CA1369 taking off from Beijing to the southern city of Sanya on Hainan Island on Thursday morning did not miss out on the spectacle either.

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Passengers were able to watch the live broadcast thanks to the satellite TV service provided on the flight, or on their own mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones, which were connected to the plane’s entertainment system, China News Service reported.

Air China said it hoped to mark the occasion with live streaming of the parade to symbolise the “end of an era” when Chinese airlines were unable to broadcast live television.

In partnership with the China’s civil aviation authority, government broadcasting authorities and satellite networks, Air China said it has carried out research and testing for more than a year before making the breakthrough with its in-flight broadcast equipment.

The airline said that in the future passengers would be able to access state TV broadcasts and a variety of provincial-level TV shows on flights.

Many airlines abroad, including those in Europe and the US, have been offering live TV broadcasts streamed via satellite TV, satellite and in-flight Wi-fi for several years.