With Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) just a few weeks away, the show’s organisers have announced the full programme for CabinSpace Live, with the expert speakers expected to discuss key trends, challenges and solutions defining the aircraft cabin and passenger experience of tomorrow. Free to attend for all AIX exhibitors and registered visitors, the programme will feature two days of panel discussions, expert presentations, and interactive Q&A sessions.
Experts from Hughes, SES, and ThinKom will open the programme on day one (8th April) with the ‘Connectivity: Choosing the Right Fit’ session, where they will explore the challenges faced by airlines looking to upgrade their IFEC (inflight entertainment and connectivity) systems.
The session will be moderated by Corinne Streichert, who is an IFEC consultant and founder and CEO of IFECtiv LLC. She will be joined by industry experts who will provide insights on how airlines can make the best choices in a rapidly evolving market, namely Bill Milroy, chairman and chief technology officer of ThinKom; Reza Rasoulian, senior vice president and general manager at Hughes; and Andrew Ruszkowski, global head of aviation at SES.
Accessibility is the key focus in the session titled ‘Accessibility: Ensuring Equal In-Flight Entertainment for All,’ moderated by Seth Miller, founder of PaxExAero. The session will include insights on how in-flight entertainment can be enhanced to ensure an inclusive experience for all passengers. This session will bring together voices from Airbus, Flightpath3D, Safran, Stellar, and APEX to discuss innovations in accessibility and content personalisation.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping connected cabin experiences, which is a topic that Reza Rasoulian, as well as Aditya Chatterjee, senior vice president of product management, aviation at SES, will cover in‘Connected Cabin: Making the Most of Artificial Intelligence’. This session will examine how AI is shaping connected cabin experiences. From predictive maintenance to enhancing passenger personalisation, the speakers will highlight how airlines can maximise AI-driven efficiencies.
The evolving nature of cabin interiors will also be under the spotlight in ‘Cabin Refurbishment: Tailored to Perfection’. Experts Sébastien Koeck, marketing director cabin retrofit services, commercial aircraft at Airbus; Brian Roland, director of airline relations at Astronics; Jennifer Coutts-Clay, author of Jetliner Cabins: Evolution & Innovation; and Charlie McBride, senior project manager at PriestmanGoode, will come together to discuss how airlines can tailor refurbishment projects in response to changing passenger needs and operational considerations.
Tailored content continues to redefine the in-flight experience. In the ‘IFE Content: Prioritising Personalisation’ session, experts will explore how airlines can leverage data and AI to curate entertainment experiences that feel more tailored than ever. Featuring insights from Dimitrios Tsirangelos, vice president of business development at Spafax, the discussion will focus on the role of personalisation in strengthening passenger engagement.
Connectivity is a crucial theme throughout CabinSpace Live, and the ‘Connectivity: Satellite Launches and Future Capabilities’ talk will provide an in-depth look at satellite launches and the future capabilities shaping in-flight connectivity.
Day two: 9th April
Day two of the programme will open with ‘Commercial Aviation and Interiors Market Outlook’, led by Andrew Doyle, senior director of market development at Cirium, and Gary Weissel, managing officer of Tronos Aviation Consulting. They will present data-driven insights into fleet and market trends, supply-side constraints, and how these factors are influencing airline strategies.
You can view the full CabinSpace Live programme HERE.
Looking back on past successes, previous winners of the Crystal Cabin Award will take the stage in ‘Crystal Cabin Award: The Evolution of Excellence – Insights from Award-Winning Innovators’ to share their perspectives on the broader innovation landscape of the aircraft cabin sector. Featuring Joachim Scholz, managing director of air safety products and services at Accenture; Luzius Rickenbacher, executive vice president, aviation interiors at Lantal Textiles; and Maddy Kerrigan, senior product line manager of Teledyne Controls, the session offers the opportunity to hear from award-winners first-hand.
The CabinSpace Live programme will close with a session devoted to the winners of this year’s Crystal Cabin Award. The Award recognises the most exciting advances in areas such as cabin systems, IFEC, sustainability, and other areas that are redefining the passenger experience. This year’s winners, having received their trophies at the awards ceremony the previous evening, will present their designs on stage, offering a glimpse into the future of aircraft interiors.
CabinSpace Live 2025 will take place in Hall B1 Lower at the Hamburg Messe during Aircraft Interiors Expo, from 8-9 April 2025.
You can register for AIX here.
