The organisers of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) have released further details of the event’s CabinSpace LIVE Seminar Theatre, part of Passenger Experience Week. Cabin interiors and IFEC (inflight entertainment and connectivity) will be high on the agenda.
Airbus Bizlabs
The event will take place on April 2-4, and the programme will start with Airbus BizLab’s pitch event that will present start-ups and Airbus ‘intrapreneur’s with an opportunity to showcase innovative ideas and solutions to industry challenges.
BizLab will also host a panel discussion on Wednesday, April 3 that will look at the future of flight beyond new technology. Moderated by Rey Buckman, Airbus BizLab’s campus leader in Hamburg, the discussion will see industry leaders explore how factors such as demographics and economic growth, tourism trends, oil prices, and the development of new and existing routes are shaping air transport mobility. The group will also look at how aircraft interiors innovations and global macro trends are impacting the passenger experience.
In-flight connectivity
Following a decade of analysis of the in-flight connectivity market, Northern Sky Research (NSR) will help attendees understand the key trends driving satellite to air-to-ground (ATG) solutions. On April 2, NSR will present an independent assessment, revealing what changes are required to achieve a more holistic approach to connectivity.
A second session with Babar Rahman, head of global marketing, sponsorships and IFEC at Qatar Airways will compare the in-flight connectivity market in North America with its European counterparts and review demands from customers in both regions.
Aircraft interiors and IFEC
On Wednesday, April 3 Gary Weissel, managing officer at Tronos Aviation Consulting, will review a number of developments that will affect an airline’s ability to deliver onboard innovations and improved passenger experiences. Attendees will be offered insight into the critical market forces that will impact the aircraft interiors supply chain in the coming years and the challenges the industry faces when upgrading cabins.
A session on IFEC, also on April 3, will be moderated by Andrew Doyle, director of aerospace market at FlightGlobal. He will examine how the rapid evolution of connectivity and tools for engagement with passengers is evolving airline business models, alongside exclusive comments from David Withers, CEO of Burrana; Dave Bijur, SVP of global accounts at Gogo Commercial Aviation; Jon Norris, VP of marketing at FlightPath3D; André Valera, director of business development at Touch Inflight Solutions; and Miguel Ferreira, IFEC manager at TAP Air Portugal.
A final session on April 4 will be moderated by Vern Alg, an industry consultant for Reed Exhibitions, which runs the Passenger Experience Week series of events. He will examine opportunities to transform the cabin landscape and develop cutting-edge interior products by deploying the latest innovations in both science and manufacturing technologies. There will also be learnings about how related industries drive improvements in the procurement process.
Located in Hall B4 Upper of the Hamburg Messe, the CabinSpace LIVE event, taking place on April 2-4, will be free to attend for all Passenger Experience Week visitors, including visitors to Passenger Technology Solutions (PTS), the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) and World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). The programme will cover new technology, innovations in interior design for aircraft and the latest trends from around the globe.
Speaking about the return of CabinSpace LIVE, Polly Magraw, event director, said: “CabinSpace LIVE is a space for delegates and exhibitors to attend interactive debates on the most pressing industry issues. Our supporting organisation, International Air Transport Association (IATA) says that 2.5 quintillion bytes of information are produced every day, and the programme will showcase how the next generation of aviation talent and leading industry experts are harnessing this data effectively for a better passenger experience.”
