Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) returns to delight the cabin interiors industry, packed with new product announcements

From 14-16 June 2022, more than 12,000 professionals from the cabin interiors industry descended on the Hamburg Messe to celebrate the triumphant return of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). The highly anticipated event – the first physical AIX in three years – created a sought-after opportunity for the passenger experience community, including representatives from more than 180 airlines, leasing companies and business jet operators, to reconnect face-to-face to discover the latest product launches from over 600 exhibitors – and new announcements at the show did not disappoint.

A hotbed of product innovation

The opening day of Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022 was defined by an exciting line-up of new product launches, with exhibitors eager to reveal the innovations and new developments they’ve been working on over the past 36 months. Among those to unveil new products, Panasonic Avionics announced its new in-flight entertainment (IFE) seat-end system, Astrova. Designed with passenger engagement in mind, Astrova reflects the latest on-the-ground technology, making the transition from passengers’ personal devices to in-flight entertainment seamless. It features cinema-grade 4K OLED screens with High Dynamic Range (HDR), Panasonic’s award-winning Bluetooth technology, as well as 67W of USB-C power to fast-charge smart devices.

Following its successful launch to a packed stand, the Panasonic team announced that fellow AIX exhibitor, Recaro Aircraft Seating would seamlessly integrate the Astrova seat-end solution into its newly revamped CL3810 to further optimise the passenger journey for single-aisle and twin-aisle aircraft. Attendees visiting the Recaro stand were provided with a first look at the CL3810 economy class seat.

As the successor to the German seat manufacturer’s popular CL3710, the new CL3810 offers weight savings of 1.5kg per seat, combining innovative ergonomic technology, premium comfort cushions with layered foam, and lightweight smart engineering. Its unique shape is designed to support the passenger’s points of tension, which reflects the award-winning design of the Recaro Automotive sport seat. Compared to its predecessor, the CL3810 offers an additional inch of living space, a more advanced articulated seat pan, and a wider backrest to enhance row-to-row privacy.

Other seating innovations were quick to make headlines across the show from suppliers including Safran Seats, TSI Seats, Aviointeriors and more. Showcasing a range of innovative concepts and configurations, Aviointeriors highlighted its Business Class Allegra lie-flat seat; 7.5kg FABRY economy class seat; and ‘Heric’ (Herringbone in Cruise) and ‘DoDo’ (Double Double Bed) family of products, which allow seating to be tailored to each airline’s requirements. These concepts are designed to provide a seating area that can be easily converted to a lie-flat area, expanding configuration options for airlines.  

Safran Seats showcased a duo of business-class products: VUE and UNITY. The first, VUE, is adapted to long-haul flights on narrowbody aircraft, but designed to assimilate the experience of the most comfortable, widebody airplanes. The name, VUE stems from the window-facing experience it delivers for every passenger. Meanwhile, UNITY is a new generation of high-end, forward-facing business class seats that provide every passenger with direct access to the aisle and multiple storage areas. 

TSI Seats also launched its economy class seat Milligram, and award-winning, business class seat Royalux. Described as a next-generation lightweight economy class seat, the Milligram is optimised for narrow-body A320 and B737 aircraft. It is one of the lightest seats in the market at less than 7.5kg per passenger without a dress cover and USB outlet. Furthermore, it consists of a significantly reduced number of parts – less than 70 parts per triple – which are mostly made using ultra-durable, high-performance composite and aluminium parts. The company also displayed its new Royalux business class seat. Designed for the A320, A350, B737 and B787 aircraft, it can be used in business class in narrow-body, or premium economy in wide-body aircraft types.

In one of the more thought-provoking designs on display, TU Delft student, Alejandro Nunez Vicente’s chaise lounge concept returned to the Aircraft Interior Refurbishment España (AIRE) stand. The innovative concept is designed for a bi-level cabin that has rows of traditional seats on the floor, along with rows of elevated seats. Nominated for a Crystal Cabin Award in 2021, Alejandro returned to AIX following successful funding to work full-time on his prototype.

Ali Aljufairi, Manager IFE & Connectivity, Gulf Air, attended AIX to see and try the latest seat innovations. He explained: “The return to an in-person event was so important in truly appreciating the different materials being used, the thought put into the design, as well as gaining a more rounded understanding of what the product can offer. This was aided immensely by attending the numerous product launches by seat manufacturers, such as Recaro, Stelia and TSI. It is such an educational experience, an institution. If I could describe it in three words, it would be ‘educational’, ‘crucial’ and ‘possibilities’.”

Outside of new seating concepts, further product announcements were unveiled across all eight halls. Helping airlines bring the connected vision to reality, Airbus revealed its Airspace Link HBCplus – a flexible high bandwidth connectivity solution that will be offered as an SFE* line-fit catalogue option and also for retrofit on all Airbus programmes. HBCplus, which initially encompasses Ka-band services, will enable airlines to connect to a choice of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) via a new certified terminal and radome built as part of the aircraft. In the future, it is planned to extend HBCplus to include MSPs which offer Ku-band services.

Airbus also revealed to AIX attendees that it had selected fellow AIX exhibitor and connectivity satcom leader, Inmarsat as the first MSP, while Safran Passenger Innovations (SPI) would act as terminal provider and hardware integrator of ThinKom’s proven antenna technology.

On the Collins Aerospace stand, attendees discovered the company’s new modular, thermoelectric cooling system that is scalable to fit a variety of applications throughout an aircraft’s interior. SpaceChiller quietly and efficiently chills compartments to food-safe temperatures without the use of refrigerants that may impact global warming. It is designed to offer airlines flexibility in service, storage, and space without sacrificing room for passengers and flight attendants. Applications range from premium suites and passenger social zones to single galley inserts and whole cart bays.

Meanwhile, STG Aerospace declared 2022 a major launch year with innovations across its core technologies, photoluminescent and electrical. It revealed the world’s narrowest and lightest emergency floor path marking – the brand new saf-Tglo® SSUL-X11. This narrower option is designed to enhance cabin aesthetics, blending seamlessly into the cabin design, while maintaining passenger safety requirements. The company also announced its new platform-agnostic Universal Lighting capability and emergency exit system package for business jet and small fixed-wing aircraft (CS23).

Speaking about the return to AIX, Kate Williams, Brand Marketing Manager, STG Aerospace, said: “The show has been really good and really busy. We weren’t sure what to expect after three years, but we’ve been fully booked with meetings and the quality of visitors has been great. We’ve had lots of interest in the new products we’ve launched at the show. The feedback has been really positive and it’s great to know that we’re launching the products our customers want and need.”

A place to learn and discuss future thinking

In addition to the abundance of new product development being showcased, the return of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) welcomed four days of high-level thought leadership as experts from all corners of the industry came together to learn and debate the future of the passenger experience industry. Kick-starting proceedings, the Passenger Experience Conference opened at the newly refurbished Congress Center Hamburg (CCH).

Opening the conference, Paul Wylde, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of paulwylde delivered an impassioned speech that reflected on the lessons learnt during the pandemic, the changing attitudes of passengers and the ever-growing importance for brands to watch, observe and understand their audiences. He provided the audience with five key observations, from consumers’ desire to find something meaningful in the brands they choose, to the explosion of the metaverse and the importance of feeling connected. He encouraged brands to foster a culture of creativity, investigation and exploration and to find the will for measured risk-taking.   

Following his opening keynote, Paul was joined by Silvia Mosquera, Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer, TAP Portugal; Anthony Woodman, Vice President – Customer Journeys & Reward, Virgin Atlantic; and moderator Jennifer Newlands, Vice President, Head of Strategy, Brand, Content, Airbus to discuss the critical passenger experience strategies transforming travel and supporting airline renewal.

Meanwhile, two conference streams ran in parallel throughout the afternoon: Rebellious Reconstruction and Integrity in Action, bringing together experts from LIFT Aero Design, TEAGUE, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Diehl Aviation, Tapis Corporation, Breeze Airways, Cirium, PriestmanGoode, Finnair, Safran Cabin, LSG Group, OneWeb, Viasat, Inmarsat, AERQ, Cathay Pacific and more.

Closing the day, Fabien Pelous, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Air France shared candid insights into how the airline is responding to the latest trends and passenger expectations. He explained the role personalisation is playing and how Air France customers increasingly want more entertainment and better connectivity. Fabien was joined by Joe Bentley, Chief Technology Officer, Panasonic Avionics and Jochen Werner, Vice President Industrial Design, Airbus for a final panel discussion, where it was agreed that the way forward required a focus on a sustainable in-flight experience, as well as one that is more connected and personalised for every passenger.

Future cabin trends under the spotlight

Continuing to offer opportunities to learn and debate future cabin trends, CabinSpace LIVE returned to the AIX show floor with a programme of insightful sessions offering attendees a chance to reflect on cabin-specific trends and challenges.

A panel of senior industry executives provided attendees with an up-to-date outlook of the commercial aviation and interiors market. In this session, aviation and cabin interiors experts including Andrew Doyle, Senior Director, Market Development, Cirium; Gary Weissel, Managing Officer, Tronos Aviation Consulting, Inc.; Rob Morris, Global Head of Consultancy, Ascend by Cirium; Elizabeth deYoung, VP Marketing and Strategy, Safran Cabin; and Markus Höllerer, Head of Strategy & Products, RECARO Aircraft Seating painted an optimistic outlook for the future of their respective industries.

Morris described the industry’s 10-year period of ‘uninterrupted growth’ before the pandemic as ‘driving through thick fog with our foot firmly on the accelerator’, only to hit a covid-shaped brick wall. However, he was upbeat about the industry’s recovery prospects, demonstrating through modelling calculated by Cirium’s Ascend tool that the future was bright, with one scenario predicting the market could return to pre-pandemic levels by August 2023.

Both Morris and Weissel, however, were keen to stress these were hypothetical, complicated by many unknowns going forward, particularly the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Weissel predicted that due to said uncertainty, there might be significant changes to the supply chain, such as restructuring processes that could see more production brought in-house, something both DeYoung and Höllerer agreed with. Both too predicted a positive recovery path for the aircraft interiors industry, but the latter acknowledged that the supply chain issue was the primary obstacle before demand and investment could return.

Other sessions explored how to make sustainable aviation a reality; the how and why of accessible air travel; and the role of women in aviation.  In addition, attendees were treated to an introduction to this year’s Crystal Cabin Award Winners. Each company was provided with an opportunity to showcase and introduce their award-winning concepts to the AIX audience, revealing the inspiration behind their innovative designs and intended applications onboard.

This included Safran Cabin’s Fire-Resistant Cargo Container, which took the Health and Safety Award after it wowed the jury with its ability to offer fire containment for Class D fires for up to six hours. The Thales Avionics team also headed to the CabinSpace LIVE stage to introduce its ‘Pulse’ charging solution for aircraft cabins. Winner of the Materials and Components category, it uses patented power management technology to dynamically allocated power during the flight.

First-time visitor Diana Danvova, IFE Engineer, Air Astana, commented on her show experience, stating: “It’s my first time at Aircraft Interiors Expo. I’ve met with so many interesting suppliers who will help me with upcoming projects. As my focus is on IFE, it’s been great to meet with so many relevant companies. There is so much innovation on display, and the chance to meet with my peers has been priceless.”

Getting back to business

With so much innovation and new technology on display, attendees were focused on building existing and new relationships at AIX to discuss future projects, facilitated by the show’s innovative new show planning tool: AIX Connect. Designed to help key airline buyers meet exhibitors during the show to build business connections and discuss new projects, the show planning tool has never been more relevant as the aircraft interiors industry reconvenes for the first time since the global pandemic began. It demonstrated its pivotal role in facilitating the industry’s desire to network, with more than 5,000 confirmed meetings across the three days of the show.

Watch the on-site videos and highlights

Commenting on the success of Aircraft Interiors Expo this year, Polly Magraw, AIX Event Director, said: “We have been completely blown away by the response from exhibitors and attendees this year. The atmosphere at this year’s show was extremely positive and demonstrated the appetite among all attendees to reconnect and drive the industry’s recovery. Visitors were able to identify new and exciting products from exhibitors, suppliers had the opportunity to do business with the airline buyers they wanted to meet, and delegates spoke extremely positively about the education opportunities at the conference. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all who joined us over the course of the four days. The breadth of innovation on show was truly remarkable and is a clear demonstration of the resilience and hard work the industry has been firmly focused on during this time.”

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) returns in 2023 from 6-8 June. It will once again be co-located with the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) and Passenger Experience Conference.

Organisers of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) announce full programme of seminars and speakers at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), 14-16 June 2022

More than 30 aviation industry experts will come together at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) – the only global event dedicated to the cabin interiors industry – to speak at this year’s CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme. Representatives from Finnair, Inflight Dublin, Inmarsat, Safran Seats, Cirium, Polygiene UK, ATR Aircraft, Sustainable Aero Lab, Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance (IAMA), Deutsche Lufthansa AG and more will share their insights and expertise on the cabin of tomorrow and beyond from 14-16 June 2022. The full programme can be found here.

Witness the latest innovations in cabin interiors

Running over three days, the free-to-attend seminar programme will shine a light on the most pressing topics impacting the cabin interiors sector – from the implementation of retrofit projects; making sustainable aviation a reality; to designing a collaborative experience between seatback and personal electronic devices; streamlining connectivity; and the latest cabin interior hygiene innovations. Attendees will also learn of the current market challenges and outlook for the sector, with an exclusive market outlook briefing from Ascend by Cirium.

The necessity of green business

As a topic continuing to dominate the aviation sector, sustainability will be one of the themes covered in this year’s CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme. A panel discussion, led by Lukas Kaestner, Co-Founder, Sustainable Aero Lab will explore the road to becoming a net-zero industry, and how new technologies, players and mindsets will all play a role. Kaestner will be joined by representatives from Lufthansa CleanTech Hub, ATR Aircraft and the ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research and President of the German Aeronautical Society (DGLR).

Sustainability will also be discussed when experts from EH Aviation Advisors and AMAC Aerospace come together to discuss business and VIP jet interior trends. The session will delve into the latest ideas

making waves in the most luxurious of aviation sectors, from sustainability to aesthetic trends and technology, and the potential for their application in commercial aviation settings.

Creating accessible air travel

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the proportion of the world’s population over 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050. Population ageing is a global phenomenon and its impact on the aviation sector will be examined in a session with experts from Flying Disabled, Acumen and Collins Aerospace. Together they will question the impact of a global ageing and less mobile population; if airlines should reconfigure the cabin to keep them flying; and the fiscal impact of removing just one seat to facilitate accessible lavatories.

New trends and IFEC capabilities

The use of digital technologies has skyrocketed over the past three years, having a profound impact on passenger expectations, and as a result, airlines’ IFEC offering. Two sessions at CabinSpace LIVE will examine these changes. Speakers from Finnair and Inflight Dublin will address how airlines can design a collaborative experience between seatback and personal devices to become more responsive to passenger needs. Meanwhile, a panel featuring experts from SmartSky Network, Inmarsat, SatCom, SES and One Web will reflect on passenger expectations for connectivity in the air, as they experience it at home, and what suppliers, airlines and business jet operators need to do to offer a streamlined connectivity experience whilst on the move.

Anti-microbial technologies and cabin hygiene

With passengers placing an increased focus on cleanliness and hygiene, the CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme will help attendees understand how to improve cabin interior hygiene with antimicrobial technologies. Experts from VX Consulting, Polygiene UK and MGR Foamtex will clarify what antimicrobial technology is and how it can be used to complement cleaning regimes, the difference between disinfectant and antimicrobial, as well as virus and bacteria. Furthermore, the session will highlight where the technology should be considered, with examples from material suppliers, including E Leather and MGR Foamtex, that incorporate the technology into their products.

A path of success for women in aviation

A dedicated session at CabinSpace LIVE will celebrate the successes of women in aviation and reflect on the steps businesses can take to help create a better, smarter, more efficient and diverse industry overall. The panel, featuring speakers from ATR, SmartSky Networks, LLC, Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter (ICAA) and Safran Seats, will delve into the impact of traditional gender roles on women in the industry today, how companies can recruit more women and keep them, as well as creating a workplace environment that is inclusive and accommodating.

Celebrating the Crystal Cabin Awards winners

Attendees at the CabinSpace LIVE seminar programme can also hear directly from this year’s Crystal Cabin Award winners. Presenting their innovative winning concepts, attendees can discover the most innovative solutions recognised by the judging panel in eight categories, including Cabin Concepts, Cabin Systems, Health & Safety, IFEC & Digital Services, Material & Components, Passenger Comfort, Sustainable Cabin and University.

Innovation takes centre stage

In addition to a packed educational programme, more than 600 cabin interior suppliers will return to Aircraft Interiors Expo this June. Filling eight halls of the Hamburg Messe, it highlights the commitment from an industry excited for the opportunity to network and demonstrate their latest products.

Attendees at AIX will also benefit from its co-location with World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). Drawing a wider audience to the show, the co-location with WTCE and the Passenger Experience Conference offers attendees a 360° view of the industry, and a comprehensive platform to identify products and services from all corners of the industry.

Polly Magraw, Event Director, Aircraft Interiors Expo said:

“Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) brings the cabin interiors community together to share ideas and discuss the future challenges and trends in our sector and there is no better place to do that than at this year’s CabinSpace LIVE. We’re delighted to unveil such an interesting and thought-provoking range of speakers and subjects for this year’s seminar programme. We aim to always be at the cutting edge of the cabin interiors industry, facilitating discussion and providing a place to source the latest insights and knowledge on emerging trends.”

Register to attend Aircraft Interiors Expo this June

From cabin lighting to new seating solutions: find the solutions you need at AIX

Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) will be a hotbed of product innovation when it returns to Hamburg from 14-16 June 2022. After a three-year hiatus, anticipation is building as every corner of the aircraft interiors industry gets set to converge on the second-largest city in Germany. Attendees will have boundless opportunities to see and try the latest innovations in person, with exhibitors also being afforded the invaluable opportunity of in-person feedback on their products and solutions.

The pandemic, despite its catastrophic impact on the aviation industry, has acted as a catalyst for the industry to focus on developing new products and solutions that respond to emerging challenges and changes in passenger expectations. The result is the emergence of a pipeline of new products waiting to be announced, with exhibitors keen to demonstrate the breadth of innovation that is helping the industry to recover. This imbues Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022 with extra significance, offering attendees the clearest possible picture of the industry’s post-covid recovery.

Passenger Experience Innovations

Aircraft Interiors Expo has long cemented its position as the leading global marketplace for the world’s cabin interiors and inflight entertainment industry, where engineers, buyers, suppliers, specifiers, designers and other industry professionals, gather to source the latest products and build vital industry connections. The aviation industry has long been recognised for its innovation, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Aircraft Interiors Expo, where over 600 exhibitors will fill eight halls of the Hamburg Messe to showcase the latest product innovations and announce new product launches across every section of the aircraft interiors sector.

Lighting and LED set to shine

Over the years, lighting has become a crucial feature to help create a more relaxing and comfortable atmosphere inside the cabin. Increased demand for quality and varied cabin lighting, and its perceived

importance in improving the passenger experience, have given rise to impressive levels of innovation. One exhibitor who will be demonstrating this is Bruce Aerospace. The company’s SpektraLite™ Full Color Mood Lighting offers the widest spectral range on the market, creating mesmerising lighting presentations that last from second to hours. It is also up to 40% lighter, and uses 60% less power, than traditional OEM systems, while lasting up to 60,000 hours.

STG Aerospace will also be exhibiting its emergency floor path marking system saf-Tglo®. Installed on over 12,000 aircraft worldwide, it simultaneously stores and emits light, providing passengers with a highly visible emergency exit path. It is the lightest system available, with weight savings of 8.5kg (737-800) and 36kg (777-300), whilst also having the added benefit of eliminating floorboard visibility and reducing view of dirt over time. Airlines also have a choice of over 60 approved colours.

Seating solutions for every cabin

Demonstrating the breadth of innovation in aircraft seating, TSI Seats, a designer and manufacturer of aircraft seating solutions for narrowbody and widebody applications, is one of many exhibitors revealing new products to the public for the first time. The Turkish company, established in 2011 by Turkish Airlines and Turkish Technic, will unveil its new economy class seat Milligram, along with its award-winning business class seat, Royalux. Offering highly comfortable seats with a slick design and ultra-low weight, the Milligram delivers significant weight savings for airlines, while the Royalux – International Yacht & Aviation Award winner – offers a higher level of privacy with wing style shell design and softer quilted side cushions.

Meanwhile, attendees will be able to try out Recaro’s CL3810 economy class seat. The seat, chosen by Qatar Airways for its A321neo fleet, is characterised by its premium lightweight comfort cushions with layered foam. Furthermore, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability, it has been created from long-lasting and durable materials, helping to extend its life cycle.

Additionally, seat cover manufacturer Muirhead will be exhibiting the world’s first full substance lightweight, ViralOff leather, which saves weight without compromising on durability and hygiene. The Scottish company, established in 1840, is a prime example of how the industry is responding to the market changes of the pandemic. Its Active Hygiene Leather, as well as being ethically and sustainably sourced, has built-in antiviral properties, improving the passenger experience by providing the hygienic seating solutions for aircraft interiors.

Exhibitors 2022 : Browse Through AIX 2022 Exhibitor Directly

Transforming the passenger experience with IFEC

In-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) is expected to be one of the key drivers of innovation at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022. The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital, and airlines are innovating to support passenger-supplied devices, offering more IFE technology and streaming options. As a result, there is little doubt that the In-flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) Zone will be a hive of activity over the course of the three days.

Among the companies exhibiting in the IFEC Zone is Airmont. Recognising the heightened demand for streaming and the need to be fully connected throughout the flight, it has developed a cutting-edge, data compression solution which optimises the limited bandwidth in the cabin to enable passengers to enjoy seamless streaming experiences. It does this by minimising buffering and increasing picture resolution. It comes with an easy-to-use interface, 1000+ online streaming platforms and the option to watch live TV, all the while saving enough bandwidth for passengers to use other devices at the same time.

Streaming platforms will be the focus on the Bluebox Aviation Systems stand. Here, the company will demonstrate its Bluebox Wow, which was recently selected by Aeroflyer to provide its wireless streaming services across the charter airline’s Boeing 737 fleet. The product provides wide-ranging digital services to passengers, including film, TV, audio, games, as well as a number of revenue generating services for airlines such as touch-free payments – a borderline necessity in the post-covid era. Crucially, too, about the size of a lunchbox, it is lightweight and highly portable, and can be stored in overheard lockers.

Meanwhile, Northern Avionics’ WAvES (Wireless Avionics Entertainment System) is a wireless IFE platform designed for all types of aircraft, which supports passenger devices, full seat-back configurations and cabin monitors. It includes ten new seat-back ultra-HD monitor sizes. Attendees will also, for the first time, since its launch in 2019, be able to try first-hand the industry-first wireless PCU and PSS system for wide-body aircrafts. With a battery life lasting for several years, while being totally wireless, it helps reduce costs, weight, and ground time for installation.

Polly Magraw, Event Director, Aircraft Interiors Expo, said:

“After a turbulent three years, it is exciting to welcome everybody back to AIX. The event being of a comparable size to the 2019 edition indicates the growing momentum in the recovery of air travel, and eagerness for industry professionals to reconnect. It has been impossible not to marvel at the levels of innovations in our industry since our last in-person event, particularly in response to the dramatic shifts in the aviation landscape due to the pandemic. What’s more, is that there is so much more to come, and we can’t wait to see what unveiled when we return to the show floor this June. It really is an unmissable event for any passenger experience professional.”

Take your place at AIX 2022

The destination for the cabin interiors industry returns to Hamburg from 14-16 June 2022 

After a long-anticipated wait, Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) – the only global event dedicated to the aircraft interiors industry –  will return to Hamburg, Germany from 14-16 June 2022 with an innovative new show planning tool: AIX Connect. 

About AIX Connect

Designed to help key airline buyers meet exhibitors during the show to build business connections and discuss new projects, the show planning tool has never been more relevant as the aircraft interiors industry reconvenes for the first time since the global pandemic began. It will play a pivotal role in facilitating the industry’s desire to source the latest cabin innovations, technologies, inflight entertainment, and connectivity solutions by facilitating targeted business connections based on specific product requirements.  

More than 600 cabin interior suppliers will return to AIX this June, filling 8 halls of the Hamburg Messe, demonstrating a commitment from an industry excited for the opportunity to network and demonstrate their latest products.  

Secure meetings

Available to all attendees, AIX Connect will pair participating exhibitors with key buyers and procurement teams from leading airlines and manufacturers. Among those confirmed to exhibit, major OEMs, Boeing and Airbus, as well leading suppliers such as 3M, Acro Aircraft Seating, AD Aerospace, BAE Systems, EnCore, MGR Foamtex, Jamco Corporation, Collins Aerospace, Lufthansa Technik, Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Recaro will come together to highlight the emerging innovation and collaboration that is fuelling the aviation industry’s recovery. 

Polly Magraw, AIX Event Director, said:

“Connecting people to make new business contacts and source the right products is the cornerstone of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX).  As we emerge from the pandemic, we know that suppliers and airlines are eager to return in-person to save time and resources in their efforts to fast track the industry’s recovery and seek the latest cabin innovations to enhance the passenger experience. We can’t wait to see the results of these incredibly important meetings as we support the aircraft interiors industry by facilitating networking with targeted business connections, as well as meeting all of their needs at the event with AIX Connect Lounge and concierge service; building connections has never been easier.”  

Gain a 360° view of the industry 

Attendees at AIX will also benefit from its co-location with World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) – which will celebrate its 10th anniversary at this year’s event. Drawing a wider audience to the show, the co-location with WTCE and the Passenger Experience Conference offers attendees a 360° view of the industry, providing a comprehensive platform to identify products and services from all corners of the industry. 

For more information, please visit Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX)

Take your place at AIX 2022

Hamburg, 5 May 2022: It’s back to the future! The Crystal Cabin Awards returns in-person as the world’s premier event honouring excellence in aircraft cabin design. A jury of 27 aviation industry experts has selected 24 entries for the final round, with the winners to be announced at a special gala dinner on 14 June 2022 at the leading global aviation trade fair, Aircraft Interiors Expo. Eight categories offer a thrilling view on the future of aviation, including new cabin concepts, innovative sustainable technologies, next-generation passenger comfort and pioneering safety features.

Recognising Innovation, Anticipating the Future: Airlines, manufacturers, suppliers and universities among 24 finalists in eight categories

Eight Categories, Eight Arenas for Innovation

• Cabin Concepts

Every year, the upcoming Crystal Cabin Awards are the focus of intense media activity, including reporting outside the industry press. In the Cabin Concepts category, entries must show innovation in designing interior spaces showing novel approaches that use the given space in intriguing ways. In a cooperation with Finnair, PriestmanGoode and Tangerine, Collins Aerospace submitted one of the year’s most widely discussed entries, AirLounge™. This new business class seat developed for Finnair features seating with a contoured shell design providing passengers more living space and freedom to relax in a variety of sitting or sleeping positions with added privacy. Another entry that provoked wider media interest outside aviation was Teague and NORDAM’s Elevate concept for premium accommodation. Floating furniture is attached to wall braces and combines with inviting materials and contouring to build an organic, homelike space concept that nevertheless allows the same number of seats to be fitted as traditional designs. i4A’s Smart Space 4 Passengers, on the other hand, focusses on maximising comfort options for the economy class. A hinge mechanism built into the seatback allows the seat in front of a passenger to be opened up to the side, allowing access to the seat for use as a leg rest or stowage area. This allows carriers an additional seat charge option should space be available in front of an occupied seat while offering passengers new ways of adding more comfort to their experience.

• Cabin Systems         

The inspiringly varied entries in the Cabin Systems category in 2022 show how innovation in the cabin can improve air travel in myriad ways: how it can better address important human needs, improve the integration of media displays and even reduce the environmental impact of the whole aircraft. The possibility of sudden in-flight cabin decompression means that aircraft must carry large reserves of fuel to comply with ETOPS standards. Caeli Nova says its new Cordillera emergency oxygen system could save the aviation industry $500m and 1.2m tonnes of CO₂ annually by opening direct routes over high terrain and increasing the duration that aircraft can fly at high altitudes after a cabin decompression from 22 minutes to over 180 minutes, without any weight or maintenance penalty. Designed by Airbus Operations GmbH in cooperation with RECARO Aircraft Seating, Flex OLED Kit is a low-weight, wafer-thin HD display that can be placed anywhere in the cabin, including in seatbacks and ceilings for video playback, ambient lighting or to direct passengers through the aircraft. Seeking to end limitations on flying often experienced by passengers travelling in a powered wheelchair, a consortium comprising Flying Disabled, PriestmanGoode, SWS Certification and Sunrise Medical has designed Air 4 All. The system allows travellers with reduced mobility to slot their wheelchair into a seating space by folding the seat up into the backrest, offering wheelchair users a safe and easy way to travel without being forced to move into a standard cabin seat.

• Health and Safety

Safety has always been the prime directive in commercial aircraft design. Safran Cabin’s Fire Resistant Cargo Container adds an additional layer of protection against fire involving lithium batteries. Thanks to its high-temperature resistant panels and unique door materials, Safran’s new device can withstand fire for up to 6 hours, the maximum range an aircraft is permitted to fly from the nearest airport during flight. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the vulnerability of aircraft cabins to air-communicable pathogens. Developed in a cooperation between Pexco Aerospace and Teague, AirShield uses airflow from existing overhead air-vents to create protective air barriers between passengers. Exhaled air is redirected downwards and out of the cabin to the aircraft’s filtration units. Hypergamut Light™ by Collins Aerospace is a new cabin lighting system attuned to human biology that helps passengers feel more comfortable during and after their flight. Compatible with human circadian rhythms, the system’s architecture attenuates blue light in a unique way that helps passengers relax even with the lights on and fall asleep faster on long haul flights. Blue light is added back in prior to arrival to help passengers arrive alert, all without affecting the quality or appearance of the light and reducing feelings of jetlag. The system automatically adapts lighting to adjust to the aircraft’s flightpath, time of day, and global positioning.

• Passenger Comfort 

Premium economy seating is one of the industry’s most hotly contested arenas. ZIM Aircraft Seating’s ZIMprivacy seat manages to increase passenger comfort while also prioritising privacy giving more living space and a heightened sense of personal enclosure. The fixed seat back houses a special recline system offering several different body positions. Its fully mechanical assembly is easier to maintain than comparable electrically powered systems. The accelerating trend to a more personal travel experience is mirrored in Personalized Sound Zone by Jamco Corporation and NTT sonority Inc. Using loudspeakers built into the headrest, PSZ creates a spherical audio area around the passenger’s head where playback is heard by the passenger but is inaudible to others in the cabin. The system achieves this without the need for headphones and audio cables by using wave cancellation to ‘build’ a sound stage around the passenger. Collins Aerospace’s SpaceChiller™ offers personal refrigeration for individual passengers or larger parts of the aircraft cabins in a way that was previously not possible using traditional air-cooling technologies. The system provides the luxury of cooled snacks for passengers in a compact device that requires half the power of traditional designs.

• IFEC & Digital Services       

Digital connectivity is fast becoming a prime concern for passengers who have become used to fast internet access wherever they travel. Anuvu and Southwest Airlines have designed a new system called Dedicated Space, promising a five-fold increase in available personal bandwidth and a dramatic reduction in latency. Along with faster downloads and uploads, passengers are promised more stable inflight connectivity with the new system. Traditionally, IFE is an area where passengers have come to expect less from in-flight systems than from entertainment equipment in their home. Thales Avionics and Harman have cooperated to bring end-to-end 4K video quality to aircraft. Optiq is the first QLED IFE display, providing better resolution, colour fidelity and dynamics range, while offering better maintainability for operators. In another product designed to bring an on-ground media experience into the cabin, ACJ Smart Lifi Monitor puts the customer’s device centre stage by combining a powerful OLED display with mobile processing power. Developed by Airbus Corporate Jets and Latécoère Interconnection Systems, the system pairs with customers’ personal digital devices which can then be used as a remote control. The Smart Lifi Monitor also offers VOD, live television, moving maps, video conferencing and more, making a wider spectrum of digital services and functions available to aircraft passengers.

Material & Components       

The tactile and visual quality of materials and components play a crucial role in passengers’ subjective cabin experience. Thales Avionics has engineered Pulse, a slim, low-weight power supply unit with dynamic power allocation that lets passengers recharge their device on-wing via USB-A, USB-C or wireless charging. Low power anxiety is one of two major concerns addressed by Smart Lock Door, Diehl Aviation’s security device for crew handhelds that allows crew to use digital devices behind a screen mounted in a lockable door to keep tablets safe from theft. Lufthansa Technik’s CabinSHINE maintenance process is designed to make repairing fixtures and furniture up to eight times cheaper and nine times faster than using conventional methods. Offering repair options for a range of cabin surface materials and imitation surfaces, the process helps avoid replacing superficially damaged aircraft furniture by quickly repairing surface blemishes during short overhaul stops.

• Sustainable Cabin    

Sustainability is the central issue of almost any public discussion about aviation in 2022. So it’s no surprise that the Sustainable Cabin category has become a hotbed of activity, with creative submissions that seek to reduce aviation’s ecological footprint. Recycling cabin plastics, for example, is an attractive but difficult way to lower ecological footprint. In cooperation with AkzoNobel, Rescoll and Roctool, Swedish manufacturer Diab has pioneered a thermoplastics manufacturing process to produce 100% recyclable panels for cabin interiors. The process is faster than methods using adhesive films, with the thermoplastic sheets welded directly to the foam core which, incidentally, offers improved improved acoustic insulation for the finished material. A cooperation between Lantal Textiles and Olivenleder® have come up with Sustainable Genuine Leather, which uses a tanning process based on vegetable oils instead of chrome- and gasoline-based chemicals, with no compromises on haptic quality. But materials hidden from passenger view can also have a sizable impact on sustainability, as proved by Lufthansa Technik AG’s AeroFLAX prepreg. Using natural fibres and a bio-based resin system instead of glass fibre, AeroFLAX saves CO₂ not only as a by-product of weight reduction but also during the manufacturing process itself.

•  University

The University category is a playing field for imaginative concepts with a clean-sheet approach to a range of issues and situations. Carlos Gatti, student at Wichita State University, has come up with a novel way of accommodating wheelchair passengers. The Fly Your Wheels Suite replaces the front left closet on aircraft like the Boeing 737-800 with a multi-purpose module that can function as a safe parking berth for a wheelchair user during a flight. Rather than taking away existing seating, the idea would let airlines add one paying passenger – the wheelchair user. Jiayi Yu from the University of Reutlingen designed the Shift Cabin Interior, a study that allows operators to configure seats in multiple positions for work or relaxation, both along the axis of the seat as well as to the side. Aside from the advantage of flexibility, the concept lets airlines fit more seats into the same business class space. Ken Kirtland of the Georgia Institute of Technology has high aims with Portal: to create an electric short-haul airline based around an innovative aircraft that emphasises a calmer flight experience at slower speeds and fantastic views.

The Innovations of the Year: Presented in Hamburg on 14 June 2022

The Crystal Cabin Award, an initiative of Hamburg Aviation, is presented in eight categories: “Cabin Concepts”, “Cabin Systems”, “Health and Safety”, “Passenger Comfort”, “IFEC & Digital Devices”, “Material & Components”, “Sustainable Cabin” and “University”.

To win one of the coveted snow-white trophies, the 24 finalists present their ideas in person to the 27 members of the international expert jury. The winners will be announced at a prestigious Gala Dinner during Aircraft Interiors Expo (14-16 June 2022 in Hamburg). The winners will present the winning concepts on 15 June at Hamburg Messe in the Cabin Space LIVE Auditorium. The Crystal Cabin Award Gallery, with an overview of all the finalists, will be displayed at the Hamburg Pavilion, jointly presented by Hamburg Aviation and Hanse Aerospace in Hall B6, Stand 6B90.

Acclaimed industry award – acclaimed industry support

The Crystal Cabin Award is supported by:

• Platinum Sponsors: Etihad Aviation Group, Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Category Sponsor: Sustainable Cabin)
• Gold Sponsors: AERQ, Airbus, AVIC Cabin Systems, The Boeing Company, Collins Aerospace, Diehl Aviation, Thales Avionics
• Silver Sponsors: Ameco Beijing, ATR, Jetliner Cabins, Boltaron Inc. – A Simona Company to Simona Boltaron, TSI Seats
• Online Sponsors: Sekisui Kydex
• Crystal Cabin Award Show Partner: Aircraft Interiors Expo
• Media Partners: Aircraft Interiors International, APEX, Flight Chic, Flightglobal, Future Travel Experience, Inflight Magazine, Runway Girl Network

Join the sponsors and supporters of the Crystal Cabin Award! Information about sponsoring opportunities and packages is available from Lukas Kaestner: lukas.kaestner@hamburg-aviation.com.

About the Crystal Cabin Award

The Crystal Cabin Award is THE international prize for innovation in the aircraft cabin. A high-calibre jury made up of renowned academics, engineers, specialist journalists and airline and aircraft manufacturer representatives comes together under the slogan “Let your ideas take off” to honour extraordinary cabin concepts and products. The competition was launched by Hamburg Aviation and is organised by the Crystal Cabin Award Association. This unique honour has been presented at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg every year since 2007. The trophies have become a seal of quality, known and coveted around the world.

Take your place at AIX

Wylde will deliver the opening keynote speech on Renewal and Revolution at the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC) taking place Monday, 13 June 2022

Aviation brand and design expert

Paul Wylde has been announced as the opening keynote speaker at the first in-person Passenger Experience Conference to take place in three years. He will explore some of the opportunities these unique times present to travel and service brands. Wylde is the California-based founder, CEO and Creative Director of paulwylde – an award-winning brand, innovation and design consultancy that specialises in creating beautiful and emotive brands.

The one-day conference will be held at the newly renovated, state-of-the-art Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) on Monday 13 June. It returns ahead of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) and the co-located World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, which both return to the Hamburg Messe from 14-16 June 2022.

Paul Wylde: PEC opening keynote speaker 

Wylde’s address will feature in the opening plenary session, Renewal and Revolution, which will focus on the vital role that the passenger experience community will have to play in helping to rebuild the aviation industry to be robust to ongoing challenges, wherever the opportunity presents itself. It will launch a day of discussion that aims to envision the arc of sustainable, worthwhile business that will be lucrative for aviation and desirable for travellers and wider society.

Wylde’s years of experience make him the ideal speaker to open the conference in this, its first in-person event since before the pandemic. He has enjoyed a broad and varied career with projects spanning brand strategy, experience design, brand identity design, communications, service style and food & beverage design. In the past, he has worked in leading design roles for British Airways, BMW, The Boeing Company, Interbrand and Frog Design.

Polly Magraw, Event Director, commented:

“We are thrilled to welcome Paul Wylde as our keynote speaker, and look forward to hearing the insights that he will share with us. His vast experience makes him a superb addition to our speaker line up and we look forward to welcoming him to Hamburg.

“We know that 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. Experienced and dedicated professionals like Paul are critical in helping the industry respond to the different passenger types while creating flying experiences that meet their needs and address their values, as it is they who will be in the vanguard of the industry’s recovery.”

See the Passenger Experience Conference Programme 

Passenger Experience Conference will return to the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) on Monday 13 June, ahead of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) and the co-located World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, which both return to the Hamburg Messe from 14-16 June 2022.

Take your place at AIX

Future aviation cabins to offer new levels of flexibility for passengers and airlines

// Sustainability a top trend in submissions // Crystal Cabin Awards returns as an in-person event in 2022

Hamburg, 17 March 2022: Future generations looking back at air travel in 2022 may feel as though they are looking back to a distant, long-gone era. New, zero-emission propulsion systems will be the norm. Yet the passenger experience of traveling by air will likely be radically different in the future, too. The annual Crystal Cabin Awards is a creative playfield where designers, engineers and visionaries come together to plan the future of the aircraft passenger experience. And in 2022, that mission is not just about quality. As the shortlist for the 2022 edition shows, manufacturers, academia and individuals around the world are continually innovating towards reducing the environmental impact of aviation, while offering new solutions to give airlines more flexibility in configuring the aircraft cabin for their customers. Returning as an in-person on 14 June, the Crystal Cabin Award 2022 will see an international expert jury gathering at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg to decide who will raise the aviation industry’s most coveted trophies this year.

Re-Configuring Cabin Spaces

Aviation industry innovators are constantly seeking out new ways to exploit the limited space available in aircraft cabins. This is made particularly tangible by concepts like Elevate, an entry by Teague and NORDAM, who have collaborated on a “floating furniture” strategy designed to bring wide-body comfort to the single-aisle business class. Collins Aerospace in cooperation with PriestmanGoode and Tangerine joined forces to produce Finnair’s new business class offering, AirLounge™. This disruptive design does away with some traditions – like seat recline – while embracing others to offer an organic, cocoon-like feel.

This year’s shortlist also sees multiple entries taking a clean-sheet approach to cabin accommodation. Many focus on foldable, reconfigurable elements that allow airlines and passengers alike to reconfigure their expectations of how aircraft cabins use the available space. An example is an entry by student Jiayi Yu from the University of Reutlingen. The Shift Cabin Interior study allows seats to be configured in multiple positions for work or relaxation, both along the axis of the seat as well as to the side. Yet it also offers airlines an enticing prospect: to fit more seats into the same business class space as existing, fixed seating.

MMILLENNIUMM describes its experimental seating concept AirSleeper as an aircraft seat architecture that leverages the available space and passenger ticket price in new ways. Each passenger is provided with a seat that can be folded into a flat bed, accompanied by multiple surfaces both at seat level and above passengers’ heads. Echoing traditional train compartment seating concepts, NeXtGC by the German Aerospace Center gives the “group of 6” a surprising new twist. The designers created a modular concept that attaches two facing rows of three seats to the sidewall and the floor as well as to a rail system in the ceiling area, freeing up the space usually reserved for overhead bins. Stowage is also provided below the seats for faster passenger in- and egress, while the option to turn the seating into a sleeping area adds a flexible component.

Safety First, Always

With the Covid 19 pandemic, the industry’s concern with airborne pathogens has become more relevant. Several manufacturers have been working on clever ideas to minimize the spread of Covid- 19 – or any other infectious disease for that matter – on aircraft. AirShield by Pexco Aerospace in Cooperation with Teague uses existing cabin infrastructure to lower dramatically the chance of catching an infection from one’s seat neighbour by directing a specially designed airflow between passenger spaces. Weigele Aerospace’s Vientum clean air system takes techniques proven in ground-based systems like school classrooms into the aircraft cabin to suppress the spread of pathogens like Sars-Cov2.

Passenger safety has always been the prime directive in aviation. Safran Cabin has now provided passengers with even more peace of mind. Its new Fire Resistant Cargo Container can inhibit Category D fires for 6 hours, including those resulting from faulty lithium-ion batteries found in digital devices. In the event of a container fire, that gives the flight crew invaluable additional time to land safely. Some safety systems, meanwhile, improve on existing systems in ways that offer other benefits, like reducing an aircraft’s carbon footprint. Caeli Nova says that its Cordillera emergency oxygenation system could if implemented globally, save 1.2m tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually by allowing aircraft to fly at higher altitudes after a decompression event.

Innovators are finding new ways to promote recycling and reduce waste

As expected, a raft of entries for the 2022 Crystal Cabin Award focussed on bringing more sustainability to aircraft interiors. Entries by ELeather, Lantal Textiles or Metzo are designed to achieve this without compromising passenger experience. ELeather’s Essence solution recycles leather waste to produce its upholstery and save on raw materials, while Switzerland’s Lantal Textiles in cooperation with Tenerías Omega and Olivenleder® has introduced a wet-green® tanning process for its leather fabrics, using vegetable oils instead of chrome- and gasoline-based chemicals. Aircraft seat cushion maker Metzo in cooperation with The Vita Group has submitted a recycling system for old cushions to offer passengers an option with lower environmental impact.

Waste and weight reduction will continue to be an arena where industry development is at its most intense. Airbus Operations has engineered a technology-driven solution designed to tackle the problem of passenger food waste. Its AI-based Airspace Food Scanner captures data about passengers’ food consumption, producing valuable data for airlines to adapt their catering services to better match customer demand. Made from sustainable materials, RECARO Aircraft Seating’s modular, lightweight plug-in seat table system promises aircraft weight reduction that, if adopted for 50 aircraft, could save 1,000 tons of CO₂ annually.

An accelerating trend: Aircraft cabins to become an increasingly digital space

In the information age, safety encompasses an increasingly wide cross-section of the air travel experience. Digital and physical security are two needs addressed by Gentex Corporation’s proposal for an iris biometric scanning system. Its engineers envisage an aircraft wide system, for example authenticating crew when entering the cockpit or implemented in a seatback device to personalise passengers’ media or shopping offerings.

Airlines’ in-cabin digital offerings are also becoming a hotbed of innovation. KrisShop on KrisWorld embodies a novel approach by Singapore Airlines, airfree and Thales that shows that the future of in-flight shopping will go far beyond paging through a well-thumbed catalogue. Touted as the world’s first inflight eShopping experience on a seatback IFE system, KrisShop on KrisWorld lets passengers browse a digital catalogue, buy in realtime using a credit card and determine the delivery point, either along their travel route or at home. AerQ’s engineers have submitted AERENA, a platform to help airlines quickly and cheaply adapt onboard apps to personalise their customers’ digital experience, while reducing development costs.

Noise cancelling in consumer electronics has seen avid uptake among frequent flyers in recent years. ACM Aircraft Cabin Modification’s MYZONE applies active noise cancellation (ANC) technology to the headrest and beyond. Compatible with any aviation seat, the designers say that the system can also use window panels and other cabin elements as a loudspeaker, attaining a sizeable 3 dB reduction in aircraft noise.

The Innovations of the Year – the whole world is watching on 14 June 2022

The Crystal Cabin Award, an initiative of cluster Hamburg Aviation, is presented in eight categories: “Cabin Concepts”, “Cabin Systems”, “Health & Safety”, “IFEC & Digital Services”, “Material & Components”, “Passenger Comfort”, “Sustainable Cabin”, and “University”.

For each category, the 28 expert members of the jury select three finalists, which will be announced at the beginning of May 2022. The finalists get to pitch their concepts to the jury in person at the world’s leading trade show for aircraft cabins, the Aircraft Interiors Expo (14th – 16th June 2022 in Hamburg). The winners of the 2022 Crystal Cabin Award will be announced at a gala dinner in Hamburg on the evening of 14 June. For the first time in its history, the prize-giving ceremony will take place at the Altonaer Kaispeicher.