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
The organisers of World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) have secured more than 40 new exhibitors that will debut at the 2025 event in Hamburg on 8-10 April. These new names will join a wide range of regular exhibitors, offering everything from food and beverages, to sustainable options, all designed to enhance the onboard experience for passengers
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
World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) will return to Hamburg in April 2025 with more features, introduced to highlight the latest advances in the onboard sector. From onboard technology to sustainability, wellbeing to thought leadership, the event will have something to offer everyone in the inflight catering, passenger comfort and onboard services sectors
Virgin Atlantic’s new autumn/winter menu is influenced by contemporary British cuisine, offering seasonality and comfort to passengers in every travel class. The airline is also bringing on board a range of feel-good beverages and new options for pre-flight relaxation in the flagship London Heathrow Clubhouse
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
1 in 3 adults in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss, and many are planning at least one holiday in the next year – but more than half worry about communicating with crew. In this film released to mark International Week of Deaf People, Virgin Atlantic crew trained in British Sign Language (BSL) showed some special guests how they provide a warm welcome, assist with onboard navigation, and generally make the onboard experience more accessible
