AIX Sessions look to the future of cabin interiors with roster of experts

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) Virtual will host a first-class programme of educational seminars when it returns in a digital format from 14 – 16 September 2021. Through a series of AIX Sessions, attendees can gain insights from experts and leaders in the cabin interior industry as they share their experiences, the latest insights and data, as well as relevant case studies to help solve current and future challenges in aircraft cabin design.

Future gazing as the aviation industry starts its recovery

Commercial aviation is on the road to recovery with daily passenger flights having recovered to approximately two-thirds of 2019’s level, according to Cirium, driven primarily by the large domestic markets of the USA and China. However, significant challenges remain in international markets, and several regions of the world are yet to see meaningful recoveries in passenger traffic due to government travel restrictions. So, what do these challenges mean for the aerospace supply chain and more specifically the aircraft interiors sector, and how will the industry transform to ensure its return to financial health?

As travel looks to return, there are still challenges for the industry.

A session dedicated to answering these questions will see Rob Morris, Head of Consultancy at Ascend by Cirium, deliver a commercial aviation market outlook briefing alongside an interiors market outlook from Gary Weissel, Managing Officer at Tronos Aviation Consulting. Following this, a panel discussion moderated by Andrew Doyle, Senior Director, Strategy, Cirium and featuring Harald Mehring, Chief Customer Officer at Diehl Aviation and Beth de Young, VP Business Development, Aircraft Interiors – Lease Customers at Safran, will debate the challenges and opportunities presented by the current market.

Celebrating Women Behind Aviation

Following AIX’s successful Women Behind Aviation campaign in 2020, AIX Virtual will host a dedicated panel celebrating and highlighting the role of women working across the industry. This session will bring together a cross-section of women in senior roles in the aviation sector including Fadimatou NOUTCHEMO SIMO, Founder of Young African Aviation Professional Association; Karyn McAlphin, Design Director at Sekisui Kydex; Erin “Elle” Lear, entrepreneur, humanitarian and aviation heiress who launched Birde – the first female aviation academy, and Jane Hoskisson, Director Talent, Learning, Engagement & Diversity at IATA.

Women Behind Aviation speakers.

They will come together to discuss their career paths; current and future initiatives to improve both diversity in the workforce and leadership roles; plus immediate challenges for the industry to address. Moderated by Jane Hobson, Editor of PAX International and PAX Tech magazines, the all-female panel will discuss learnings from sectors outside aviation, role models and mentoring both for professional development and encourage more women into aviation, along with the benefits that a diverse and gender-balanced workforce brings to corporate culture, innovation and the bottom line.

Design exchange between business and commercial

A session curated by Business Jet Interiors International magazine and moderated by the magazine’s editor, Izzy Kington, will explore what the business aviation and commercial airline markets can learn from each other to benefit cabin design. Experts including Tom Chatfield, CEO of Camber Aviation Management; Howard Guy, CEO of Design Q; and Andrew Muirhead, Head of OEM and Engineering services at Lufthansa Technik AG will come together to discuss innovations, trends and general lessons with cross-sector potential. They will explore the factors required to achieve a successful crossover; and if there is potential for a service level somewhere in-between the sectors. The session will outline the differences in how each market is structured, conventions in the design and outfitting process, customer requirements and more.

What can business and commercial aviation share when it comes to cabin design?

A more innovative future for aviation

Focusing on encouraging the startup ecosystem in aviation and how they can help achieve sustainability goals, we will welcome a panel of Crystal Cabin Award Winners and Sustainable Aero lab mentors. Moderated by Lukas Kaestner, Co-Founder, Sustainable Aero Lab, experts including Dr Achim Leder, Co-founder & CEO, Jetlite GmbH, Nico Buchholz, Aerospace Executive and Co-Founder of Flightlevel 500, Mentor at Sustainable Aero Lab and Omer Bar-Yohay, Founder and CEO of Eviation Aircraft, will come together to discuss how they have succeeded in such a challenging environment and what the road to success looks like.

The Crystal Cabin Award returns this year.

Finally, AIX will also play host to the highly-anticipated Crystal Cabin Awards, world-renowned as the international prize for innovation in aircraft cabin design. These prestigious awards have been presented at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg every year since 2007, and this year will take place during the virtual event on Wednesday 15th September from 15.15-16.15 CEST. A high-calibre jury made up of renowned academics, engineers, specialist journalists and airline and aircraft manufacturer representatives will present the awards that aim to honour extraordinary cabin concepts and products.

Polly Magraw, Event Director at RX (Reed Exhibitions), said: “It’s incredibly exciting to announce the programme of AIX Sessions ahead of the virtual event in September. Alongside the Passenger Experience Conference and Taste of Travel agenda at WTCE, the events educational programme is shaping up to be one no cabin interior professional can miss as we look ahead to recovery. We’re delighted to welcome so many industry experts, both familiar faces and new names, to discuss some of the most pertinent topics the aviation industry should be discussing to influence the future.”

Sign up to attend AIX Virtual

Take your seat at AIX Virtual to attend the AIX Sessions this September.

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) is the world’s leading cabin interiors event where airlines and the supply chain to meet and has been for over 20 years. AIX plays host to the latest innovations, technologies and products for the cabin interiors, inflight entertainment and passenger comfort industries.

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