The pandemic has disrupted the in-person events sector over the past two years, but after a long absence, the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) will return to Hamburg, Germany, on Monday, 13 June 2022. Hosted at the newly renovated Congress Center Hamburg (CCH), attendees will be able to explore many aspects of the inflight experience, with a focus on ways to help rebuild the aviation industry.
Leading experts are confirmed to speak, representing the likes of Air France, TAP Portugal, Virgin Atlantic, Finnair, Collins Aerospace, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Safran Cabin and Inmarsat. Interactive Q&As will follow each session. The full programme of speakers can be found here.
First up: Renewal and Revolution – what does the future hold for passenger experience?
Launching the conference, a plenary session will focus on trends and ideas that can drive forward the passenger experience community. It will look to inspire and challenge attendees to envision the arc of sustainable, worthwhile business that will be lucrative for aviation, and desirable for passengers and wider society.
Attendees will be given the opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders representing TAP Portugal and Virgin Atlantic as they demonstrate how airlines are responding to the needs of those passengers who will be in the vanguard of travel recovery and building sustainable businesses.
Following a short networking break, the Passenger Experience Conference will split into two streams which will run in parallel throughout the afternoon: Rebellious Reconstruction and Integrity in Action.
Rebellious reconstruction
In many areas of their post-pandemic lives, people have reviewed and often altered their behaviours and values. These sessions will explore how the passenger experience community should best respond to these paradigm shifts, from radical ideas to redefine the cabin, to taking action on climate change. Industry experts including representatives from Collins Aerospace, LIFT Aero Design, Teague, Diehl Aviation, Unum Aircraft Seating, Cirium, PriestmanGoode and Orson Associates will consider how to meet the needs and address the values of the different cohorts of passengers who will be at the vanguard of travel recovery.
Integrity in action
In the parallel conference stream, representatives from Tangerine, Safran Cabin, Estée Lauder, Viasat, Anuvu, Omnevo, Inmarsat and Reaktor Aero will examine the power of experience, and how to elevate that experience for consumers who want human values to be put first. People are seeking greater integrity and trustworthiness, all while expecting smooth digital processes to manage their lives in ways that suit their needs or mood. Discussions will examine how airlines and their partners can align with these values to create cabin environments and services that will provide the experiences passengers most desire.
Airline leaders deliver candid insights
Closing the conference, Fabien Pelous, SVP of customer experience at Air France, will welcome back attendees for the final session of the day as he offers candid insights into how the airline is dealing with the latest trends and passenger expectations. He will be joined by a panel of industry experts for a round-table discussion to reflect on the learnings of the day.
After a day of sessions at the conference, delegates are invited to the Passenger Experience Conference Industry Networking Party, a must-attend networking event. Free to attend for conference delegates, it is the perfect opportunity for that all-important chance to reconnect, while enjoying live music and international cuisine. For those looking to attend AIX or WTCE but unable to attend the conference, tickets for the Industry Networking party can be purchased during registration.
Polly Magraw, event director for AIX, WTCE and the conference, commented: “Complementing the innovation anticipated at this year’s AIX and WTCE, we are delighted to announce the line-up for this June’s Passenger Experience Conference. The pandemic has fundamentally shifted how the aviation sector does business, with an increased focus on building anew for the future and not simply repairing the past. This year’s speaker line-up will help us answer how we should be responding to the different cohorts of passengers who will be in the vanguard of travel recovery while creating flying experiences that meet their needs and addresses their values.”