Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems (AES), received its first line-fit certification of the new EmPower UltraLite in-seat passenger power system on a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft for TUI Airlines.

The EmPower UltraLite system is a new, lightweight architecture providing high output USB power for passenger use without the need for a power supply unit installed at each seat group. The result is a lower cost, lower weight system over traditional, seat-group-based architectures.

The UltraLite system is now line-fit offerable on any Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft and will be line-fit delivered on Airbus in the third quarter of 2018. "We are pleased to announce TUI Airlines as the line-fit launch customer for our revolutionary new UltraLite system, and are confident that our in-seat power solution will deliver an excellent passenger experience. The installation went flawlessly and the system is performing well," said Dennis Markert, Director of Business Development, Astronics AES.