CabinSpace Live 2024 hosted by Inflight

CabinSpace Live hosted by Inflight provides a dedicated theatre at Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, to discuss the cabin of tomorrow and beyond. Gain insights from prominent industry figures as they discuss the latest developments in In-flight Connectivity, In-flight Entertainment Systems, the Cabin Environment, Cabin Refurbishment, Seating, and the Future of the Aircraft Cabin. Additionally, the sessions explore actions that can drive sustainability across these sectors.

Industry specialists will moderate the CabinSpace Live sessions on 28th May, which will showcase a stellar line-up of expert speakers to be announced soon. Read on to find out more about what to uncover at CabinSpace Live!

For further information as to how to become involved in the event as a Moderator, Speaker or Sponsor please contact the Inflight team on +44 1252 545 993 or email becky@hmgaerospace.com.

10:00 – 10:45 | Connectivity: perfect partnerships

Many connectivity giants are partnering with others in the market to provide seamless connectivity to passengers through LEO, MEO and GEO coverage. How is aviation benefiting from this?
Moderated by: Seth Miller, Aviation Analyst.

11:00 – 11:45 | Cabin environment: achieving the ultimate ambiance and wellbeing for passengers

How important is it to get the ambience in the cabin right and what benefits does this offer to passengers? Many factors together such as lighting, audio, materials and cabin air contribute to this. Increasing numbers of suppliers are innovating to ensure restful and enjoyable experiences on board.
Moderated by: Satu Dahl, Editor, Inflight.

12:00 – 12:45 | Connectivity: the big switch

Free Wi-Fi has long been seen as the ultimate end goal for in-flight connectivity, with a plethora of announcements from airlines switching to freemium business models over the last six months. This session examines how airlines can best transition to free/freemium connectivity for passengers.
Moderated by: David Whelan, Senior Analyst, Valour Consultancy.

13:00 – 13:45 | New era: the fascinating future of the aircraft cabin

AIX is the perfect platform to showcase new and improved onboard concepts and products. Aircraft cabin suppliers and design agencies give us a glimpse into the futuristic features and ground-breaking products that air travellers can look forward to.
Moderated by: Maryann Simson, Director, Jetway Communications.

14:00 – 14:45 | In-flight entertainment: a captive audience

In-flight entertainment systems provide many opportunities for carriers to learn what makes their passengers tick. How can airlines improve passenger loyalty and experience through personalisation of IFE and making make the most of data captured on board?
Moderated by: Corinne Streichert, Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity Consultant, Founder and CEO, IFECtiv LLC.

15:00 – 15:45 | Seating: finding the perfect balance

Airlines are balancing the tough task of fitting as many seats in the cabin as possible while at the same time trying to ensure maximum passenger comfort. What is the perfect cabin configuration and how can seat manufacturers help airlines to find the ultimate cabin layout?
Moderated by: Satu Dahl, Editor, Inflight.

16:00 – 16:45 | Cabin refurbishment: investing to impress

This session features airlines that have recently completed major refurbishment programmes or are in the middle of refurb projects. What are the latest must have features on board and how do the refits improve the passenger experience, as well as crew functions?
Moderated by: Jennifer Coutts Clay, Author, Jetliner Cabins.

Connectivity: perfect partnerships

Moderator: Seth Miller has over a decade of experience covering the airline industry. With a strong focus on passenger experience, Seth also has deep knowledge of inflight connectivity and loyalty programs. He is widely respected as an unbiased commentator on the aviation industry. He is frequently consulted on innovations in passenger experience by airlines and technology providers.

Panellist: Ben Griffin is VP Mobility and AMEA Region at Eutelsat OneWeb. Ben has over 20 years’ experience in IFC, with notable contributions to companies such as ARINC, AeroMobile, Inmarsat and currently Eutelsat OneWeb. Ben brings a wealth of experience from the IFC service provision perspective, including significant satellite provider insight spanning both GEO and LEO technologies.

Panellist: Reza Rasoulian, vice president, Aviation Business Unit at Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), leads the company’s aviation business which includes both commercial and business aviation. He also leads product development for NGSO, and other mobility markets. Among many awards for excellence and leadership, Mr. Rasoulian received the 2018 Euroconsult Smart Ship of the Year award for a record 3.174 Gbps of satellite bandwidth delivered to a ship.

Panellist: Melanie Berry has been the Director of Customer Experience at Iberia since May 2017. She has 25 years of expertise in transforming customer satisfaction, operational performance, sustainability and employee engagement for global airlines. During her time at Iberia, the customer experience has been improved with a completely revamped journey, through digitalisation in all areas, the introduction of free messaging, a new catering provider, improved amenities and delivery of the next generation of aircraft.

Panellist: Elias Zaccack joined SES Networks in 2000 and is responsible for the Mobility vertical of SES. He leads multiple sales teams focused on individual market segments, including cruise, commercial shipping, yachting, and aeronautical. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Zaccack led Scientific-Atlanta’s (now Cisco) commercial efforts in Asia between 1992 and 2000. He also led Lockheed Martin’s (formerly GE Astro Space) international satellite initiatives in Western Europe and in Mexico. Mr. Zaccack is a board member of the Society of Satellite Professionals International.

Panellist: Jerome Condis, Connected Aircraft – Head of Solution Architecture & Partnerships, Airbus

Cabin environment: achieving the ultimate ambiance and wellbeing for passengers

Satu Dahl, Editor, Inflight

Moderator: Satu DahlInflight Editor and Aerospace Media Awards Finalist, is looking forward to moderating an insightful panel discussion at the CabinSpace Live theatre at the Aircraft Interiors Expo for the third year in a row. Over a career spanning almost 20 years, Satu has edited several aviation magazines, held management roles with the European Regions Airline Association and Travel Radar and is a highly regarded aviation journalist who has tremendous passion for the industry.

Panellist: Dan Rust is the co-founder of Cobalt Aerospace, and it has been his pioneering ideas that have been responsible for many of the cabin lighting innovations we take for granted in the aviation industry today. Since the acquisition of Cobalt by IFPL in 2021, Dan has turned his eye for innovation to the in-seat power market, which is also crucial to the passenger cabin experience.

Panellist: Aris Promos currently serves as Sales Director at Fokker Services Group, an independent global leader in aircraft modifications and conversions across the VIP, special mission, and commercial markets.  He holds a remarkable career in the aviation industry spanning 25 years. In his current role as Sales Director, Aris is responsible for developing the business jets completions market and coordinating the value chain in the VIP market, ultimately delivering the highest levels of luxury and comfort for executive aircraft owners.

Panellist: Charlie McBride is a Senior Project Manager at PriestmanGoode with experience directing accounts and managing projects for some of the best known airlines, seat manufacturers and IFE innovators. He is passionate about the intersection of business and design, and has worked with global clients including FC Barcelona, Virgin Atlantic, Swarovski, Maserati, Adidas, Red Bull, Jaguar Land Rover and most recently, Riyadh Air. Since joining PG in 2021, Charlie has managed the delivery of large complex projects for private and commercial clients, whilst also leading internal initiatives to maintain PG’s status as a global leading design studio.

Panellist: Nicholas Michelinakis is the Founder & Lead Engineer of Aircraft Lighting Int’l. With over 25 years of experience, Mr. Michelinakis leads the engineering team to new innovations in the interior & exterior lighting for both private & commercial aircraft. His leadership has propelled the company to the forefront of the industry, ensuring compliance with rigorous standards and securing many FAA & ISO Certifications. Mr. Michelinakis’ expertise continues to drive the development of cutting-edge lighting solutions, enhancing the safety and aesthetics of modern aircraft.

Connectivity: the big switch

Moderator: David Whelan is a senior analyst in aviation at Valour Consultancy, and has been with the consultancy firm for five years. David is a specialist in IFEC and aircraft digitalisation – and has recently authored Valour Consultancy’s flagship reports on in-flight connectivity and in-flight entertainment.

Panellist: Reza Rasoulian, vice president, Aviation Business Unit at Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), leads the company’s aviation business which includes both commercial and business aviation. He also leads product development for NGSO, and other mobility markets. Among many awards for excellence and leadership, Mr. Rasoulian received the 2018 Euroconsult Smart Ship of the Year award for a record 3.174 Gbps of satellite bandwidth delivered to a ship.

Panellist: Mary Rogozinski has been a leader in the inflight entertainment and communications industry for over 30 years.  As the Director of Business Development at NetForecast for the aviation market, Mary is responsible for strategy, marketing, sales, and account management – working with airlines, inflight connectivity providers, and other aviation related companies offering Wi-Fi to their customers to improve the passenger Wi-Fi quality of experience.

Panellist: Sean Reilly’s background in aviation includes being active in aviation innovation for nearly 30 years, focused on EFBs, aircraft connectivity and airline operations. Sean has an extensive background in airline operations, flight systems, maintenance, hardware certification and airline operational approvals for EFBs and data connectivity products. Reilly is well known as a global contributor to design, certification, and implementation of avionics platforms, applications and connected aircraft implementation. Reilly is also a Type Rated Commercial Pilot.

Panellist: Dr. Joe Leader serves as the Group CEO of APEX, covering Airline Passenger Experience Association), IFSA (International Flight Services Association), and FTE (Future Travel Experience). As a forerunner in aviation and technology, Leader has been a leading executive for more than two decades across technology and aviation companies. Leader holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Emory University, an MBA in technology management, and conducted his business Ph.D. research on accelerating technology adoption in aviation.

Panellist: Oren Cohen Butansky, EVP & CXO, EL AL Israel Airlines

New era: the fascinating future of the aircraft cabin

Moderator: Maryann Simson is a veteran aviation media professional with experience in both print and broadcast journalism, content development, production, marketing, and PR. Over 15 years in the sector, Maryann helmed or contributed to many of the industry’s top media outlets and became and accomplished video presenter and event host, having moderated/chaired countless live and virtual panel sessions at conferences around the world. In 2021, she re-booted her PR and communications consulting agency Jetway Communications. Jetway leverages Maryann’s wealth of experience and strong network of expert contacts to provide creative media and PR solutions for companies in aviation.

Panellist: Ralph Wagner, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Axinom since 2001, brings over two decades of industry experience, technical expertise, and leadership skills to the company. As CEO, Wagner is at the helm of Axinom’s corporate strategy, concentrating on sales, forging industry partnerships, and spearheading technology adoption.

Panellist: David Pook is the Vice President – Global Marketing and Sales at Burrana. He joined the company in September 2019, with the responsibilities for leading the company’s product strategy, marketing and communications, as well as global sales activities. David came from Thales InFlyt Experience where he held the positions of Director of Operational Marketing and Director of Applications Product Line for 15 years. David has more than 30 years aviation experience across systems engineering, product management, programs, and marketing.

Panellist: Duncan Jackson is a seasoned technology executive with over three decades of experience revolutionising industries through automation and online transformation. As President of FlightPath3D, Duncan is dedicated to creating a unified travel journey with a mission to guide every flying passenger. Under his leadership, FlightPath3D has transformed traditional flight maps into engaging, interactive travel guides using augmented reality, an advanced video platform, and now AI. This innovation has earned recognition as the “Best Inflight Entertainment Product” and is used by 80 airlines.

In-flight entertainment: a captive audience

Moderator: Corinne Streichert is the founder of IFECtiv LLC an Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) consulting company based on the west coast of the USA. As a multi-award winning IFEC veteran recognized for redefining and innovating customer experiences in the commercial aviation space, Corinne is also the host of the ‘On Your Flight Today’ podcast that interviews guests from all over the world talking about topics from aircraft interiors, inflight entertainment and connectivity to the overall inflight passenger experience.

Panellist: Tal Kalderon has earned a reputation as an innovative and accomplished in-flight entertainment & Connectivity (IFEC) leader with expertise in guiding state-of-the-art IFEC advancements to realize complete customer satisfaction and pacesetting business growth. His progressive experience has led to resounding success throughout his career, providing key strategic consulting and critical executive support. Since 2006, Tal has committed himself to helming crucial IFEC transformations with El AL Israel Airlines, where he has risen to the position of Head of Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity.

Panellist: Ben Fuller has spent the past 12 years in the IFE industry and is currently the VP of Global Sales at Inflight Dublin. Fuller has a long career in the in-flight entertainment industry and prior to his role at Inflight Dublin, Fuller served as the VP of Global Sales at the Exploro Group and the VP of Sales and Marketing at FTS Technology. Prior to the IFE industry, Fuller designed slot machines and played professional basketball.

Panellist: Dr. Joe Leader serves as the Group CEO of APEX, covering Airline Passenger Experience Association), IFSA (International Flight Services Association), and FTE (Future Travel Experience). As a forerunner in aviation and technology, Leader has been a leading executive for more than two decades across technology and aviation companies. Leader holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Emory University, an MBA in technology management, and conducted his business Ph.D. research on accelerating technology adoption in aviation.

Panellist: Sam Allen has been in the inflight entertainment industry for 11 years and has been Managing Director at Stellar since 2021. During his time as Managing Director, Stellar Entertainment has seen tremendous growth, onboarding major new accounts in the form of American Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Air India. Sam oversees global operations, licensing negotiations, and acquisitions, while also leading Stellar’s Lab and Innovation department. Additionally, he manages Stellar Studios, known for its award-winning production in music composition, sound design, and audio post-production.

Panellist: Miguel Ferreira, Digital Onboard Experience Manager, TAP Airlines

Seating: finding the perfect balance

Moderator: Satu DahlInflight Editor and Aerospace Media Awards Finalist, is looking forward to moderating an insightful panel discussion at the CabinSpace Live theatre at the Aircraft Interiors Expo for the third year in a row. Over a career spanning almost 20 years, Satu has edited several aviation magazines, held management roles with the European Regions Airline Association and Travel Radar and is a highly regarded aviation journalist who has tremendous passion for the industry.

Panellist: Markus Höllerer is the head of strategy and products at Recaro Aircraft Seating, where he is responsible for corporate strategy from a global perspective, product management, market intelligence and business development activities. Höllerer earned an aeronautical engineering degree and an MBA, and has more than 20 years of experience in cabin interiors. Before becoming head of strategy and products, he worked as the program manager for platform development of the CL3710 economy class seat.

Panellist: Chris Brady’s 30-year career in aviation, began with British Airways, but took off when in 1990 he joined Virgin Atlantic, ultimately as General Manager Product Development. In 2000 he co-founded FlightStore and as CEO secured venture capital backing for the start-up software business that provided online shopping via seatback TV. Following from this, Chris founded Unum in 2020 to address the longstanding issues that airlines face in the provision of business class lie flat seating for their passengers.

Panellist: Adam White is the Founder and Creative Director of Factorydesign. Adam graduated from Leicester University in 1981 with a First class BA honours degree in Industrial Product Design. He became senior designer in 1985 at Pentagram. In 1997 he jointly founded Factorydesign, a 3-dimensional design business with 25 years of specialization in Aviation. His work includes strategic understanding and designs for international companies including Etihad Airways, BA, Acro Aero Seating, Thompson Aero Seating, Sellotape, Nokia, BAA, Yamaha and Ford amongst many others.

Panellist: Andy Jones has been Technical Director at Acro since 2021. With 30 years in product development across multiple industries, Andy brings a diverse experience to the challenges of aircraft seating design. He previously joined Acro Aircraft Seating as Head of New Product Development, leading the introduction of the Series 6 family of economy class seats as well as the company’s Domestic Business Class product. Andy has overseen the successful introduction of the latest generation Series 9 economy class seat, achieving an unrivalled combination of class-leading low pax-weight and living space.

Panellist: Ryan McNeice is one of the co-founders of AliceBluAero and has a unique background in the aerospace industry. As the Managing Director/ Accountable manager and Form 4 Holder in AliceBlu’s approved CAA Production Organisation, Ryan has brought together a team of experienced professionals in the necessary fields of the aircraft seating industry and created a company with strong family values and a lean production system ready for growth.

Cabin refurbishment: investing to impress

Moderator: Jennifer Coutts Clay has held several senior job positions during her airline career, spread across three continents. At British Airways, Jennifer was the first woman in the airline to be appointed to run operations and sales as Head of a geographical region. Subsequently, she held the position of Controller Corporate Identity during British Airways’ transition from government- to investor/ownership. She was a certified Consultant (#PA-23925) to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She is a Contributing Editor to Aircraft Interiors International magazine and is a Sponsor of the Pan Am Museum Foundation and the Crystal Cabin Awards.

Panellist: David Rice has worked in the aviation industry his whole life, including senior roles as an Aircraft and Project Design Engineer at British Airways and Cabin Customisation Director at Airbus.
He brings more than 30 years of industry experience to customers of Optimum Aero, the business he set up in 2015 to provide aftermarket parts supply and specialist technical consultancy for cabin interior projects with airlines, lessors and MROs.

Panellist: Melanie Berry has been the Director of Customer Experience at Iberia since May 2017. She has 25 years of expertise in transforming customer satisfaction, operational performance, sustainability and employee engagement for global airlines. During her time at Iberia, the customer experience has been improved with a completely revamped journey, through digitalisation in all areas, the introduction of free messaging, a new catering provider, improved amenities and delivery of the next generation of aircraft.

Panellist: Dan Kerrison has led the strategic development of the airline’s inflight experience since joining flydubai in 2008. He is responsible for the evolution of the award-winning cabin interior and inflight entertainment product, management of inflight retail and catering operations, cabin safety and compliance, inflight hospitality and cabin crew management. Prior to joining flydubai, Dan joined the Guest Service Systems division at Virgin Blue during the airline’s start-up in 2000.  He then joined Emirates Airline’s Service Delivery and Cabin Crew Management team in 2006. Dan has a Master of Aviation Management degree from Griffith University.

Panellist: Jacobo Mesta leads Soisa’s growth strategy as a Board member and head of Sales and Growth Strategy at Soisa Aircraft Interiors. The family-owned and run business was founded in 2006 and provides a range of flexible design and manufacturing services based in Chihuahua, Mexico, and Dubai, UAE. Soisa specialises in aircraft seat upholstery, offering design, manufacturing, and integration services for airlines worldwide. With over 300 employees, Soisa manufactures a variety of interior components and maintains a strong ESG program in Chihuahua.

More announcements coming soon. Find out more about Aircraft Interiors Expo here.