The 25th edition of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) reaffirmed aircraft interiors as a key driver of differentiation in a fast-evolving aviation landscape, the event organisers have announced.
The show saw 12,500 attendees and nearly 500 exhibitors across three days and brought together 185 airlines, alongside a broad international mix of suppliers, reflecting the continued globalisation of the cabin sector.
“The event was truly a celebration of everything the aircraft interiors industry has to offer, but what stood out most was the strength of the community coming together to shape the next 25 years,” Archana Dharni, Event Director of AIX said
“It was fantastic to see the industry’s momentum on full display, with so many brand-new product launches, significant airline representation and the very latest innovations on show. We look forward to welcoming the aviation interiors community back to Hamburg in 2027.”
Exhibitors said there had been strong engagement throughout the event with a noticeable focus on meaningful airline discussions and programme-driven conversations. “This has been our best show to date. The quality of airline enquiries has been particularly strong this year, and there’s a real sense that the event continues to elevate across every aspect: bigger, better, and more dynamic each time.” said Kevin Crowder, New Product Development Manager, and Carey Briggs, Head of PR and Marketing, Mirus Aircraft Seating.
“AIX is a high-quality event, both in terms of its exhibitors and the calibre of attendees it attracts.” said Mingchuan Xiao, Deputy Manager at Fellat Air Lease Co. “It’s a key destination for us to explore the next generation of innovation in the industry, as well as an important opportunity to connect with OEM partners. It’s always a valuable experience and a great place to attend to stay at the forefront of what’s coming next.”
“AIX 2026 has been as good as ever. Even after attending for many years, I still feel like a kid in a candy store,” said Shankar Prasad Mandagere, Cabin Vendor Manager at Airbus.
Alongside the AIX veterans, 93 companies made their AIX debut, supported by a strong influx of first-time visitors, signalling the event’s continued growth and expanding reach.
New innovation in the BizJet Interiors Zone
This year’s event featured the first-ever BizJet Interiors Zone which brought together 24 exhibitors focused on VVIP and corporate aviation. The zone demonstrated how business aviation-level thinking is increasingly filtering into the commercial cabin, as premiumisation continues to accelerate across aircraft types.
“It’s great to see the increased focus on business aviation at AIX this year. I’m hoping to see that momentum continue, particularly when it comes to the luxury touches that make business aviation truly next level,” said Antares Reis, Senior Adviser at Seabury Securities.
The zone also served as the backdrop for a series of announcements that highlighted both the maturity of the business aviation sector and its increasing influence on wider cabin development.
Just to mention a few announcements, F/LIST announced the expansion of its capabilities into corporate helicopter interior and ALOFT marked its 50th anniversary at AIX 2026, highlighting five decades of engineering expertise alongside the continued expansion in VVIP and Head of State completions, alongside growing investment in its Innovation Lab and engineering capabilities.
CabinSpace Live keeps on growing
This year’s CabinSpace Live conference programme at AIX explored many of the trends shaping the future of cabin development, including premiumisation, sustainability, accessibility, certification challenges and digital passenger experiences, with Inflight running the first full day of the sessions and featuring several key executives who provided excellent insight into today’s market and beyond.
For over 30 years, Inflight has been recognised as the leading international media delivering in-depth coverage of the end-to-end in-flight experience. Together, Inflight and AIX have established CabinSpace Live as THE meeting place for industry thought leaders and fellow peers to discuss the cabin of tomorrow and beyond.
