February 13, 2017 – This year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2017, which takes place in Hamburg, Germany from April 4-6, is shaping up to be a record event, according to its organizer, Reed Exhibitions.
This year, AIX welcomes 55 new exhibiting companies, including Adient, Bombardier and airtango, who will join more than 500 companies at the event including longstanding exhibitors such as Airbus, B/E Aerospace, Boeing, Inmarsat, Panasonic Avionics and Zodiac and newer entrants such as Acro, and Mirus Aircraft Seating.
A major focus is the IFEC sector. According to the IATA’s 2016 Global Passenger Survey, a key concern for passengers, particularly those aged under 24, is having the same connectivity in the air as on the ground, highlighting the need for continued airline investment to meet passenger needs. This need is reflected in the continued growth of the IFEC Zone at AIX, which will host more than 100 exhibitors, and serve as the world’s largest event dedicated to IFE content and service providers.
AIX is part of the Passenger Experience Week, which also includes the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo, co-located with AIX at the Hamburg Messe from April 4-6. This event is also organized by Reed Exhibitions, which anticipates 20,000 visitors registering to attend Passenger Experience Week.
The first of the events taking place at the Hamburg Messe during Passenger Experience Week is the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) on April 3. The event is dedicated to the future of the passenger experience industry and incorporates a broad choice of presentations and panel discussions on the key themes of generating revenue, the connected journey, and comfort and wellbeing. Leading speakers on these topics come from inside and outside the passenger experience industry including Dick Powell, chairman of Seymourpowell; Paul Edwards, head of industrial design at Airbus; and Blake Emery, director of differentiation strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
New to the PEC this year is the Airline Breakfast Forum, which presents an opportunity for airline attendees to network with peers about issues relevant to improving the passenger experience and to share best practice insights. Attendees at the Airline Breakfast Forum will also be invited to a keynote by Jeff James, vice president and general manager of the Disney Institute.
Polly Magraw, event director of Aircraft Interiors Expo, stated, “2017 is set to be a landmark year for AIX, with record growth from both new and existing exhibitors, much of it in our burgeoning IFEC zone. With such a wealth of companies exhibiting at the show, and more than 1,000 airline executives expected to attend, it’s no surprise that AIX is becoming firmly established as the event that sets the agenda for the aircraft interiors sector.”
Also taking place during AIX will be CabinSpace LIVE, a theater-style series of seminars where visitors can learn and discuss a variety of pressing issues within the IFEC, interiors and MRO sectors.
Passenger Experience Week also incorporates the 11th annual Crystal Cabin Awards, which take place on the evening of Tuesday April 4, with seven award categories that celebrate the most innovative ideas in cabin design and technology.
