When: 9 to 11 September 2025
Where: Long Beach Convention Center – Long Beach, California USA
APEX Global Expo 2025 is a key event in the aviation calendar, where leaders from airlines, industry suppliers and innovators come together to drive partnerships, share insights, and explore cutting-edge technologies, all with the goal of elevating the passenger experience.
The event organiser, APEX (the Airline Passenger Experience Association) is expecting a record number of visitors at this year’s expo, all keen to discover the latest inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, IFE content options, inflight connectivity technologies, digital cabins, and inflight technologies.
Visitors can also enjoy keynote presentations from airline CEOs and a series of thought leadership sessions, where they can gain new insights in areas such as enhancing NPS, boosting ancillary revenues, and driving sustainability efforts.
Further opportunities are available at the co-located International Flight Services Association (IFSA), Future Travel Experience (FTE), and Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) events. You can find a preview of the IFSA Global Expo HERE.
As Official Magazine of APEX, Aircraft Interiors International has listed a few key entries for your event diary below, including practical info, thought leadership sessions, social events and more.
But first, take a look at just 20 the many highlights that lie in store for APEX Global Expo visitors.
The 15-minute IFE workflow challenge
Spafax, an entertainment and media agency, will be showcasing a system that it claims could solve the biggest IFE workflow headaches in the time it takes to have a coffee break.
Airline teams are invited to bring a real IFE content management problem to APEX Global Expo, where it could be solved by The 15-Minute Workflow Challenge at booth 1411. Spafax’s senior global product owner, Tracy Cartaxo, will put the company’s Client Portal to the test, demonstrating how one API-friendly workspace can unite briefs, assets, versions, metadata, approvals, and spend in order to eliminate bottlenecks, streamline versioning, and keep teams in sync. The portal is already in use with several carriers.
Spafax will also present its StoryWonder app, an AI-powered children’s IFE experience that turns flights into personalised adventures. The app lets kids star in their own travel tales alongside airline mascots, destination characters, and even crew voices – creating fun for young passengers and peace for parents and fellow flyers.
Interactive moving map experiences
Navigate your way to the FlightPath3D booth (1135) to see a range of interactive 3D moving map experiences, including the Moving Map and Route Map as you would expect, plus a Destination Guide that can create ancillary revenue by connecting travellers with local experiences, and a Cloud-Based Map that delivers a consistent, branded experience across all channels, backed by real-time data.
You can also see the newest addition to the range – Control Tower mode – which provides passengers with clear, real-time visuals of their aircraft’s position during taxi and ground operations.
All these map experiences can be delivered to seatback IFE screens or personal electronic devices. Alongside detailed flight tracking, FlightPath3D’s tools offer immersive 3D exploration, destination content, and experiential recommendations designed to engage passengers during the flight and inspire their plans after landing. The Destination Guide can also support ancillary revenue growth by connecting travellers with local experiences.
See how Blueview services work with Starlink-equipped aircraft
Bluebox Aviation Systems will present the latest evolution of its Blueview digital services platform, which has been built to be compatible with Starlink inflight connectivity and to maximise the benefits of always-on, high-bandwidth connectivity.
The full suite of Blueview provides a digital cabin experience that includes personalised IFE, real-time retail, loyalty engagement, and integrated advertising, while creating potential new revenue streams and improved Net Promoter Scores for airlines.
Bluebox says the Blueview platform is optimised for deployment on high-bandwidth equipped aircraft, and can be hosted on the ground and delivered in flight, reducing onboard hardware requirements, simplifying maintenance, and accelerating rollouts across fleets.
Blueview is already operating on multiple platforms, including Airbus’ Open Software Platform (OSP) and as part of Viasat’s Connected Partner Platform, enabling integration into diverse airline operations. Find put more at booth 1325.
A hybrid antenna system
ThinKom’s latest ThinAir solutions, including the new Plus hybrid design, will be on display at APEX Global Expo (booth 1345). A hybrid of two antenna systems, ThinAir Plus combines ThinKom’s mature and LEO/MEO/GEO-proven VICTS technology with a small (LEO-only) ESA for redundancy, flexibility and efficiency.
The Plus architecture is modular, allowing for a mix-and-match of Ku- and Ka-band antennas installed with a common adapter plate, fairing, and radome. Airlines can deploy the company’s Ka2517 solution today and quickly swap to Ku-band VICTS antennas in the future (or vice versa), without changing the mounting hardware.
AI for a personalised and monetised journey
Visit West Entertainment (both 1101) to find out about a monetisation technology that leverages Qloo’s proprietary AI Taste technology to predict consumer preferences with precision, enabling brands to deliver personalised advertisements and travel recommendations via IFE content.
Visitors can also see the latest enhancements of We by West 2.0, the company’s automated, Cloud-based AI-powered platform. Key features of the platform include enhanced AI capabilities for improved accuracy, efficiency, and deeper insights; a simplified user interface that makes it easy for anyone to manage the end-to-end entertainment process in one place; and the ability to scale to meet the evolving needs of business, using Cloud-based tech that allows content to be loaded within hours.
Hybrid content moderation
Adaptive will be demonstrating its advanced content moderation services for digital press on IFE systems. The service can check for factors such as nudity, violence, religious sensitivity, and competitive references, to ensure a safe user experience.
Key features of the hybrid moderation approach include deep learning automation for rapid detection of inappropriate content, and manual validation for accuracy. The service covers various content categories and can be integrated with Adaptive’s mobile IFE solution, ACES. Take a look, at booth 1635.
The Celebrity Traitors is available inflight
A new addition to All3Media International’s content slate is the hotly anticipated UK version of The Celebrity Traitors. Following the success of three smash-hit series of The Traitors on BBC, the celebrity edition is set to arrive later this year.
19 celebrities including Stephen Fry, Tom Daley, Nick Mohammed and Paloma Faith will be banished to the iconic castle in the Scottish Highlands to play the ultimate game of deception, betrayal and trust, all for the chance to win up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.
Also available on All3Media International’s slate is The Traitors India, a recently launched version of the platform. Delivering high-stakes gameplay, unpredictable twists, and cliffhangers, the Indian adaptation has quickly become a pop culture phenomenon across the country and is also available for IFE buyers to licence. Find put more at booth 1631.
Learn a language in the skies
With time on their hands and a foreign destination imminent, many passengers find that a flight presents a great time to start learning a language or to refresh their knowledge of it.
uTalk’s offer enables passengers to learn languages via the IFE system. uTalk offers multiple source language options for its learning modules and videos, including English, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, German, Turkish, Latin Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.
The company has also started offering customer airlines a bespoke language option relating to where their passengers are mostly from and the destinations the airline flies to. To date uTalk has created specific language options for LATAM (Latin Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese), Ethiopian Airlines (Ahmaric content, regional language for Ethiopian passengers), Hawaiian Airlines (some basic words and phrases in Hawaiian such as hello /please/ thank you), and Fiji Airways (some basic words and phrases in Fijian). Have a chat at booth 1648.
A great movie option for December: Splitsville
The latest film from filmmaker Michael Angelo Covino (best known for The Climb) is Splitsville, a bold, boundary-pushing comedy-drama that could be the cinematic event of the season. After premiering at Cannes on 19th May and being releasing theatrically on 22nd August, the film will land exclusively with Skeye Inflight Entertainment (booth 1523) for IFE viewing in December 2025 – available worldwide.
Starring Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Kyle Marvin, and Michael Angelo Covino, Splitsville follows two couples whose friendship spirals into chaos when Carey (Marvin) learns that Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino) are in an open marriage. Sparks fly, lines blur, and relationships buckle under the pressure. Also featuring Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, O‑T Fagbenle, Charlie Gillespie, and Simon Webster, this ensemble delivers sharp timing, raw emotion, and unexpected mayhem.
With Covino’s signature wit and physical-stunt bravado, think jaw-dropping car crash and visceral confrontations, fusing humour and heart.
Find out how Hughes ties in with Airbus HBCplus
Hughes Network Systems has become an official end-to-end Ka-band Managed Service Provider (MSP) within the Airbus HBCplus in-flight connectivity (IFC) ecosystem.
The deal means that Hughes technologies are now available in the Airbus catalogue, providing new connectivity options for airlines, including a roadmap for low-latency connectivity, multi-orbit coverage, and polar route support. Find out more about the options at the Hughes stand (813).
Collaborative IFE content curation
Touch will showcase its newly revamped Customer Portal, designed to make the IFE content curation process collaborative rather than transactional. The new version – Touch Customer Portal 2.0 – places airlines at the centre of their onboard entertainment strategy, enabling them to take control, maximise efficiency, and craft onboard experiences to suit their passengers.
Airlines can directly review, approve, suggest, comment on, and reject proposed titles on the portal with clarity and ease. Airlines can also access historical content decisions and visualise what is currently onboard – all within a single, intuitive interface. Try it out at booth 1341.
More ways to watch live sports inflight
IMG, the global sports marketing agency, will showcase its new personal device solution – a web player that streams live sport directly to passengers’ own devices. IMG’s broad range of live sports coverage, ranging from football’s most popular leagues, to golf majors, tennis grand slams, American sports and more, was previously only available inflight via seatback IFE screens.
The web player was developed in-house by IMG and was first launched onboard Qatar Airways’ Starlink connected aircraft to enable seamless streaming of live sport in the sky.
IMG’s Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra platforms are the first and only dedicated live sports channels for the international airline market. Broadcasting 24/7, year-round, the channels deliver over 6,000 hours of premium live sport to millions of passengers annually. With all matches of FIFA World Cup 2026 due to be broadcast live onboard by Sport 24, the web player is sure to be popular. Arrange a demo at booth 1335.
IMG secures Premier League broadcast rights
IMG has also extended its agreement to broadcast Premier League football (soccer) matches to the inflight and cruise markets on its Sport 24 channel, for the next three seasons. Under the terms of agreement, Sport 24 will continue to broadcast more than 270 matches from the English teams live on its channels to passengers globally each season.
Richard Wise, IMG’s SVP for content and channels, said of the contract: “Our research shows that 74% of passengers would prefer to watch live sport over other inflight entertainment (IFE), and the Premier League remains one of the most popular sport leagues in the world. We’re delighted to extend our live coverage of the league.”
The agreement forms part of Sport 24’s extensive live football coverage deals, which includes the FIFA World Cup 26, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Nations League, and the AFC Asian Cup. It follows what IMG says is a “hugely successful summer of sport” on the channels, which saw Sport 24 deliver more than 210 hours of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 championships to passengers around the world.
Trending YouTube lifestyle & wellbeing content
In response to growing demand for lifestyle entertainment in the skies, Encore Inflight (booth 1542), a global distributor of IFE content, is offering two exclusive wellbeing series from award-winning filmmaker and YouTube creator, Matt D’Avella. With nearly four million subscribers and over 320 million views, D’Avella is a leading voice in mindful living and habit formation. Matt D’Avella’s Netflix documentary, titled ‘Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things‘, helped popularise the minimalist lifestyle movement around the world.
One series, titled ‘Create a Simple Life with Matt D’Avella’, is a six-episode collection that explores what it means to live with less and focus on what matters most. Blending storytelling, practical insights, and humour, D’Avella dives into themes such as minimalism, fitness, family routines, and mindful living. Episodes include:
- 10 Rules That Changed My Life
- Why I’m Still a Minimalist After 14 Years
- Why I Eat the Same Thing Every Day
- I Cut My Training By 70% (And Got Better Results)
- 9 Ways We Keep Our Home Organised
- We Tried Minimalism with Kids
The other collection, titled ‘Habit Experiments with Matt D’Avella’, is a six-part series in which D’Avella puts popular habits to the test, creating lessons, challenges, and results. Episodes include:
- I Quit Sugar For 30 Days
- I Took Cold Showers For 30 Days
- I Tried Intermittent Fasting For 30 Days
- I Used a Dumb Phone For 30 Days
- I Tried Powerlifting For 100 Days
- I Put 27 Habits to the Ultimate Test
Find out what’s new at Anuvu
APEX Global Expo presents a great opportunity to find out more about the latest announcement from Anuvu. The provider of IFE and IFC technologies for airlines, VIP/VVIP aircraft, and other mobility markets, has been acquired by Platinum Equity, a global investment firm pending regulatory approvals.
Anuvu operates two primary divisions. The Media Technology Services division licences, distributes, localises and delivers IFE content for aviation, cruise lines and non-theatrical end markets, with a catalogue of more than 400,000 titles. The Connectivity division provides telecommunications equipment, broadband satellite internet access, passenger management services, and analytics solutions to airline customers.
Joshua Marks, CEO of Anuvu, will continue in his role following the acquisition. “We’ve made strong progress in recent years by investing in both technology and content, focusing on our core strengths in the aviation and cruise markets. We recently activated the Anuvu Constellation, providing dedicated aviation satellite capacity over North America,” said Marks.
“In parallel, we continue to expand our media partnerships to licence, localise and distribute distinctive content to the world’s leading airlines and cruise lines,” he added. “We are excited to partner with Platinum Equity to leverage their financial expertise, global capabilities, and operational know-how supporting fast-growing portfolio companies.” Find oput more at booths 1427 and 1310.
Explore a modern moving map
Astronics will be showing the SkyShow Server in-cabin moving map system, with 4K-resolution visuals for both new and in-service aircraft cabins.
Developed with FlightPath3D’s software, the SkyShow Server is suitable for airlines seeking to modernise their moving map systems. It provides an interactive experience, allowing passengers to explore real-time flight data and visuals directly from their personal devices.
The SkyShow Server offers customers a simple upgrade path to a more immersive inflight map experience. It can be configured to branding and experience objectives, allowing personalisation of colours, icons and layouts, with over 50,000 Points of Interest (POI) pins for destination exploration.
The platform features touch controls, augmented reality views, and real-time flight data, offering modes like tracking the plane’s journey, 360° aircraft views, cockpit perspectives, and a ‘flying-over-places’ feature. Try it out at booth 1329.
Enjoy US TV programming content globally
According to DirecTV Inflight, it is the first US-based television provider to offer a live programming experience for international flights departing from and returning to the USA, with the offering including a diverse selection of popular TV channels. Airlines can select from a curated lineup of premium live TV content, including sports, news, and entertainment.
“DirecTV Inflight is redefining the in-flight entertainment landscape for international travellers by connecting passengers to their favourite US content when they fly from and to the US,” said Kimberly de Flesco, head of aviation strategy for DirecTV Inflight. “We’re helping to keep passengers engaged, informed, and entertained while flying beyond US borders.”
Passengers travelling on international flights offering DirecTV Inflight services now have access to 24 channels, including sports networks such as NFL Network, NFL RedZone, NHL Network, FOX Soccer Plus, the Golf Channel, and CBS Sports Network. News and business programming includes Fox News International, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox Business Network International, and Fox Weather.
Other entertainment options including Bravo, FX, USA, E!, NatGeo, Hallmark, and Disney Channel are available, plus additional Spanish-language content from Telemundo and Univision.
The DirecTV Inflight service is compatible with both seatback IFE screens and personal devices. Find out more at booth 1340.
Take in a TED Talk
IFE content provider, Inflight Dublin, has partnered with TED, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas. This collaboration will bring thought-provoking and inspiring TED Talks to airline passengers worldwide.
Through this partnership, Inflight Dublin (booth 1023) will integrate a curated selection of TED Talks into its IFE platform, offering passengers access to thought leadership across science, technology, business, creativity, and personal development.
Joey Katona, senior sales director for the TED Talks, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “TED’s mission is to spread ideas that spark curiosity, learning, and meaningful conversations. By partnering with Inflight Dublin, we have the opportunity to bring our content to a global audience in a unique setting – 30,000 feet in the air. Whether passengers want to be entertained, educated, or inspired, TED Talks offer a compelling way to make travel time more enriching.”
A motorised PRM lift
Letronics will be showing its Wiselift WL780 Motorized PRM Lift, designed for the safe transfer of PRMs from their wheelchair to their airplane seat. The lift ensures that passengers are transferred with dignity and also reduces the physical strain on flight crew members during transfers. The speed of transfer can also help minimise the risk of delays.
The lift features universal compatibility and works seamlessly with various aircraft types, from narrowbodies to widebodies, and can work with multiple seating configurations, including many herringbones. Knowing an airline has a consistent and safe transfer system across its fleet could influence a ticket choice. Arrange a demo at booth 1249.
See the future of Viasat IFC
Many visitors will be keen to learn more about Amara, Viasat’s next-generation In-flight Connectivity (IFC) system for commercial aviation. Features such as smart network enhancements and application-level data linking to satellites in multiple orbits mean that Viasat Amara is scalable so airlines can create a differentiated and future-proof onboard passenger experience.
Viasat Amara offers optimised, multi-network connectivity today via a simple software upgrade with Viasat’s proven terminal, which is deployed on more than 3,000 aircraft around the world (Valour Consultancy figures), servicing approximately 10,000 flights per day. No additional hardware is required.
You can find out more in this video by Aircraft Interiors International.
The roadmap for Amara includes innovations that unlock opportunities in every orbit, with GEO, HEO, and LEO satellite compatibility, by integrating a high-capacity ecosystem of Viasat and partner satellites. This includes the recently announced LEO Ka-band capacity from Telesat Lightspeed.
As part of its IFC terminal roadmap, Viasat is also developing a proprietary electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal, named Viasat Aera. This terminal is intended to unlock simultaneous, dual-beam connections across satellites in GEO, HEO and LEO, enabling a quality IFC experience with a single antenna.
Viasat (booth 1137) says the Aera terminal is expected to enter commercial service in 2028, with installations achievable in less than a day by re-using the ARINC 791 antenna attachment points, with no change to the in-cabin network required.
Some practical visitor information
Before you head to the expo, it is worth downloading the official mobile app. Search ‘FTE APEX IFSA’ in the Google Play Store or App Store to download the app. The app enables:
- AI powered matchmaking
- A smart and personalised event itinerary
- Customised leads
- Set your availability
- Arrange meetings
- Adjust and reschedule
- Live chat
- Reminders
A few key points in the event agenda
Monday 8 September
15:00 – 18:00: Registration open
Where: Promenade Lobby
Tuesday 9 September
07:30 – 17:30: Registration open
Where: Promenade Lobby
08:45 – 09:00: Welcome from the presidents of APEX and IFSA
Where: Auditorium – Room 104
09:00 – 12:00: CEO Keynotes
Where: Auditorium – Room 104
12:00 – 13:00: Networking lunch
Where: Auditorium Foyer – Room 104
13:00 – 17:00: Expo show floor open
Where: Hall B
15:00 – 15:45: Thought Leadership Session
Where: Hall B Thought Leadership Stage
17:00 – 17:30: PCIAW Fashion Show
Where: Hall B Thought Leadership Stage
17:00 – 19:00: Networking reception
Where: Hall B
Wednesday 10 September
07:50 – 08:50: Airline breakfast
Where: Room 103BC
07:45 – 17:00: Registration open
Where: Promenade Lobby
09:00 – 17:00: Expo show floor open
Where: Hall B
09:00 – 15:45: Thought Leadership Sessions
Where: Hall B Thought Leadership Stage
17:30 – 18:30: Airline Leaders Reception
Where: Hyatt Regency | The Market Bar
Thursday 11 September
07:50 – 08:50: APEX Member Meeting
Where: Room 103AB
08:15 – 16:00: Registration Open
Where: Promenade Lobby
09:00 – 16:30: Expo show floor open
Where: Hall B
09:00 – 14:30: Thought Leadership Sessions
Where: Hall B Thought Leadership Stage
17:00 – 17:45: APEX/ IFSA Awards ceremony reception
Where: Auditorium Foyer – Room 104
17:45 – 19:15 APEX/IFSA Awards ceremony
Where: Auditorium – Room 104
There are several networking opportunities available at the Expo, and an impressive lineup of top-level executives speaking at the Thought Leadership Sessions.
Stars of the show include the CEOs of United Airlines, Air India, El Al, Aeromexico, Fiji Airways, and Breeze Airways, and C-suite execs from many other airlines.
