LONG BEACH, Calif., November 4, 2024 (Ecnetnews.com)
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Nearly 3,000 of the top airline industry decision-makers, including representatives from 90 airlines, walked the industry’s most comprehensive show floor, APEX/IFSA Global EXPO 2024. Co-located with Future Travel Experience (FTE) the record-breaking event featured 262 exhibitors across three shows representing the full spectrum of the passenger experience.
Attendees experienced cutting-edge airline-related technologies, products, and services, such as advanced in-flight connectivity, next-generation in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, innovative food and beverage offerings, sustainable amenity kits, biometric solutions, airport robotics, and much more.
“APEX/IFSA Global EXPO 2024 stood as a remarkable convergence of aviation’s brightest minds, where game-changing innovations and in-flight service advancements were not only discussed but realized,” APEX/IFSA CEO Dr. Joe Leader stated. “With three days of airline-driven thought leadership on best-in-class supplier solutions, we introduced a new level of collaboration to advance passenger-centric technology. Additionally, the integrated, all-in-one show floor featured key elements of the passenger experience, bridging from Future Travel Experience airport to in-flight, showcasing the best in the aviation industry.”
Industry-First Announcements
At the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO 2024, Thales and Qatar Airways made an industry-first public announcement: Qatar Airways will equip its new Airbus A321 NX fleet with Thales’ FlytEDGE, a Cloud-native IFE platform. This collaboration introduced the Crystal Cabin Award-winning FlytEDGE IFE server, which utilizes Cloud computing technologies and an open software platform to enhance the passenger experience.
Separately at the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO 2024, Riyadh Air and Panasonic Avionics launched a strategic partnership to transform in-flight entertainment. Riyadh Air will equip its fleet with Panasonic’s high-definition IFE systems, emphasizing seamless connectivity and personalized content. In a pioneering move, Riyadh Air introduced the industry’s first “no handset” philosophy across all classes of service, allowing all passengers to seamlessly control IFE using their smartphones and touchscreen.
Exclusive Insights from C-Suite Keynotes
At the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO, attendees had an exceptional opportunity to hear from leading airline CEOs and executives as they delivered keynote speeches that reshaped understanding of passenger service and the future of the travel experience. These industry leaders shared invaluable insights into how airlines were innovating to enhance customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and adapt to evolving passenger needs. Sessions were moderated by BBC News Correspondent & Anchor Michelle Fleury and Dr. Joe Leader. Speakers included:
- Michael Rosseau, President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada
- Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Atlantic
- Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air
- Matthew Klein, Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer, Spirit Airlines
- Fiona Kiesel, Chief Guest Officer, Breeze Airways
- Samson Arega Bekele, Group Vice President Customer Experience, Ethiopian Airlines
Thought Leadership Conference Brings Together Top Industry Leaders
Knowledge sharing and expert insights continued as part of the Thought Leadership Conference, sponsored by Panasonic, on the tradeshow floor which brought together leading figures from the aviation industry to discuss emerging trends and critical challenges. An overview of the sessions is as follows:
- Seth Miller of PAXEX.AERO led a discussion on connectivity models and their impact on airline net promoter scores with Xia Cai of Qatar Airways, Matthew Klein of Spirit Airlines, and Alex Wilcox of JSX.
- Ingo Wuggetzer of Airbus was joined by Delta Flight Products’ Tyler Anderson Lennert, National Disability Authority and Center for Excellence in Universal Design’s Jack Kavanagh, and PriestmanGoode’s Jo Rowan to collectively present a cross-industry approach to develop solutions for air travel for those with mobility impairments.
- Miguel Ferreira of TAP Air Portugal, Blake Rittenberg of JetBlue, and Dominic Green of United Airlines joined a panel led Maryann Simson of Jetway Communications to discuss forward-looking strategies and creative curation approaches intended to revolutionize the IFE landscape by 2030.
- Oren Butansky of EL AL and Nick Ewen of The Points Guy along with Mark Muren of United Airlines and Captain Wirush Theparak, Thai Airways explored strategies to maximize in-flight ancillary revenue through personalized passenger experiences, leveraging data and technology to boost loyalty and profitability.
- Stephan Schulte of Lufthansa Group and Joshua Hirschheimer of Porsche Consulting focused on overcoming persistent supply chain challenges affecting onboard product innovation.
- Riyadh Air’s Anton Vidgen, Aeroméxico’s Antonio Fernandez, Cathay Pacific’s Guillaume Vivet, Southwest Airlines’ Matthew Kiesel, and Delta Air Lines’ Ekrem Dimbiloglu joined a debate moderated by Jetway Communications’ Maryann Simson, on the future of in-flight entertainment preferences between traditional seatback screens and the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend.
- Duncan Jackson of FlightPath3D with Ekrem Dimbiloglu of Delta Air Lines unveiled the first airline launch of FlightPath3D’s accessibility in in-flight maps, detailing how the innovative Accessibility Map aims to improve the travel experience for passengers with unique needs.
- Lufthansa Group’s Laura Petry and Spafax’s Dimitrios Tsirangelos explored the Connected Content Stream solution, a Crystal Cabin Award finalist, that not only enhance passenger engagement but are also set to transform the travel experience by delivering real-time content updates and personalized services directly to passengers’ devices.
- Mehdi El Kouch of Airbus, Fabien Pelous of Air France, Patrick Brannelly of Emirates, Paul Verhagen of SAS, and Mustafa Mucahitoglu of Turkish Airlines joined a panel moderated by Robynne Trueman of PAX Tech that analyzed groundbreaking digital innovations for the next-gen airline cabin, demonstrating how cutting-edge technologies and customer-centric design can reshape passenger experiences.
VIP Experiences: The JetZero Experience
The APEX/IFSA Global EXPO also offered airline professionals access to exclusive VIP events such as The JetZero Experience on Sunday 27 October. JetZero, a pioneering aerospace startup based in Long Beach, showcased their innovative blended-wing body airplane capable of flying trans-oceanic routes and with up to 50% less fuel consumption than a traditional tube-and-wing aircraft. APEX/IFSA airline members and media were given a first-hand look at JetZero’s revolutionary airplane with a walkthrough of JetZero’s cutting-edge facility and discussions with the visionary team behind this aviation breakthrough.
APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony Highlights Excellence in the Airline Industry
On the last day of the APEX Global EXPO, top airline and supplier members celebrated their peers during the prestigious APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony, where airlines were recognized for their efforts to enhance the passenger experience over the last year. Hosted collectively by Dr. Joe Leader, BBC News’ Michelle Fleury and The Points Guy’s Nicky Kelvin, the evening honored outstanding airlines and suppliers in the following categories:
- 2025 World Class Rating: The top 10 airlines in the world awarded in this category achieved the highest audited international standards beyond APEX Five Star™ in safety, sustainability, service, and inclusiveness. Click here for the 2025 recipients.
- 2025 APEX Five Star™ and APEX Four Star™ Airline Awards: These airlines were recognized based on verified passenger feedback via TripIt over 1 million flights, representing the most reliable metric for passenger satisfaction. Click here for the 2025 recipients.
- 2025 APEX Best In Airline Awards: Recognizing the global airlines providing the best passenger experiences in Cabin Service, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Seat Comfort & Wi-Fi as voted on by the passengers. Click here for the 2025 recipients.
- 2025 APEX/IFSA Awards: Celebrating the best of industry and innovation, APEX/IFSA Awards recognize the new achievements and initiatives that were successfully implemented in the past year. Click here for the 2025 recipients.
- APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Joe Leader presented Air France-KLM Group CEO, Benjamin Smith, with the APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award. Through the industry titan’s visionary leadership, Air France-KLM has excelled in all its commercial, operations, and customer service functions, leading to impressive financial performance and taking the airline’s passenger experience to new heights. Click here for more information.
- APEX Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Joe Leader also presented SVP of Non-Theatrical Sales at Paramount Pictures, Joan Filippini, with the APEX Lifetime Achievement Award at the APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony. Her leadership revolutionized in-flight entertainment content distribution, driving Paramount’s revenues to unprecedented levels. Click here for more information.
The 2025 APEX/IFSA Awards Ceremony, which took place during this year’s APEX/IFSA Global EXPO, was sponsored by gategroup and Thales, and in part by BBC News, Blulabs, Formia, Jetliner Cabins, Paramount Pictures, Safran, and Touch.
For a complete list of upcoming APEX, IFSA, and FTE events, please visit APEX Events. For more information about APEX, visit apex.aero, sign up for the APEX Daily Experience e-newsletter, or follow APEX on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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About the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)
As a global non-profit and one of the world’s largest international airline associations, APEX accelerates the industry with the backing of nearly every major airline and valued supplier. APEX reinvests all its resources to serving its members, strengthening the worldwide airline industry, advancing thought-leadership, fostering business opportunities via events, developing global initiatives, setting key airline standards, and highlighting well-deserved recognition across our industry. In conjunction with both the International Flight Services Association (IFSA) and Future Travel Experience (FTE), APEX serves the full spectrum of the end-to-end travel experience.
About the International Flight Services Association (IFSA)
The International Flight Services Association (IFSA) is a global professional association serving the needs and interests of airline and railway personnel, caterers and suppliers who provide onboard services on regularly scheduled travel routes. Under the umbrella of APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) serving every major airline in the world, IFSA is dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of the multi- billion dollar in-flight and railway onboard service industry. For more information about IFSA, please visit ifsa.aero, or follow IFSA on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Source: APEX / IFSA
