Highlights of the November issue of Aircraft Interiors International include: insights into the potential for textures to enhance comfort and branding; a focus on the Middle East aviation market; galley innovations; advances in cabin lighting; the latest cabin materials, from leathers & textiles, to thermoplastics; and more…
Aviation events organiser, RedCabin, has announced that the Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit (ACIS) 2024 will take place from 3-5 December in Tokyo, and will be hosted by All Nippon Airways (ANA). Hundreds of C-Suite leaders from across the aviation industry are due to gather for the three-day summit, to explore the major challenges and trends faced by the aircraft interior industry
A new expert group has been announced in the UK today, which will work to improve accessibility, empower consumers and raise industry standards for disabled passengers, from booking to inflight, to baggage claim. The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group will be led by Baroness Grey-Thompson, with members including presenter and disability campaigner Sophie Morgan
Television presenter and disability advocate Sophie Morgan has created a documentary in which she sends a group of disabled travellers undercover to expose the injustices – and consequences – of inadequate service experienced when flying. As she says, “It’s a hard watch at times. But a necessary one”
Thales’ innovative range of accessible in-flight entertainment technologies has won a Crystal Cabin Award in a special category: ‘Best Customer Journey Experience’. Thales won with the Suite for Accessible IFE Solutions, which supports passengers who have visual and hearing assistance needs
The US Department of Transportation has issued a penalty of US$50 million to American Airlines for failing to provide a safe and dignified air travel experience for passengers with disabilities. The record fine is 25-times larger than any previous US DOT penalty against an airline for violating disability regulations. “The era of tolerating poor treatment of airline passengers with disabilities is over,” said Transportation Secretary Buttigieg
The doors of APEX/IFSA Global Expo opened on 28 October, with highlights from the first day including Thales and Qatar Airways unveiling a world-first advancement, C-suite executives sharing insights and updates on their airlines, and panels advising how to enhance areas such as accessibility and IFE curation
Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), the annual event where airlines, industry suppliers and cabin interiors professionals converge to shape the cabins of the future, will return on 8-10 April 2025 at Hamburg Messe. The 2024 event saw strong growth, and the 2025 event promises even more reasons to attend
After 15 years of advocacy, All Wheels Up is close to realising its goal of wheelchair tie-down systems being installed in aircraft cabins. “We have not identified any major issues to installation,” says the US DOT, with testing and certification starting in 2025, and rulemaking expected in early 2026
APEX has announced the full list of airline industry leaders speaking at APEX/IFSA Global Expo in Long Beach on 28 to 30 October. The lineup of high-profile speakers includes Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, Michael Rousseau, president and CEO of Air Canada, and Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic
