TRIP REPORT: Back to Innovation, Back to Hamburg – Sights of Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 (What you might have missed)

Sights of Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 (What you might have missed – PICTORIAL)
Back to Innovation, Back to Hamburg

Time for a photo tour around Aircraft Interiors Expo. Because it’s one hell of a busy show… With lots and lots of pictures.

In this trip report:

• Back to the industry
• Sunday adventures to Heathrow featuring FlixBus
• British Airways Galleries – Club South Lounge
• BA974 London Heathrow to Hamburg Airport
• Into Germany, IBIS Budget, Saint Pauli
• When cables go walkies (A trip to Saturn)
• Sights of Aircraft Interiors Expo 2023 (What you might have missed)
• Back to Hamburg Airport
• Hamburg Airport Lounge
• BA967 Hamburg Airport to London Heathrow
• The joke of Heathrow Luggage delivery and the ride home
• Innovation continues

Time for something a little different this year. Rather than me listing all the Press Launches I covered, here’s a more pictorial view of Aircraft Interiors order.

To be fair, this will be in Alphabetical Order, so there are no accusations of favouritism or “because I like that company”.

The fact is that a lot of the show was very open to the press and had representatives that are happy to talk to people. And there were some interesting things I saw on my travels.

Acro Aircraft Seating

Acro was showing off its Series 9 seating (which launched with Jet2), including the Series 9 Regional seat which launched with Deutsche Aircraft.

Aerq

IFE and Systems Aerq were showing off their ARENA Platform, some of the seat-end units that are making their way aboard Eurowings Discover, as well as a Condor and Bucher collaboration.

Ignore the reporter in this picture used for demonstration purposes. 

With Eurowings Discover.

As well as fast-rollout of IFE updates. There’s more on this when I get more than five minutes to write.

Airbus

There was a slew of announcements from Airbus, with A220 programme news, A350 updates and some of the eco-measures that they are working on with partners.

The Airspace cabin comes to the A220. 

A Concept Business Class by Stelia Aerospace shows a lightweight business class concept. 

AirFi

Air-Fi had a very successful show, picking up awards (including a Crystal Cabin Award). They were showing off their W-IFE platform, as well as their Iridum-connected LEO soulti9on.

ATR Aircraft

ATR Launched its Highline passenger interiors. And it has scooped a customer up at the Paris Air Show to boot.

Collins Aerospace

It was a busy show for Collins Aerospace, launching their Aurora Narrow body concept, along with showing off some of their seating products and Intellisense.

Aurora Seat – I have lots of thoughts. 

Meridian – As deployed on Aegean Airways

Intelisense in action. We’ve talked about it.

Delta Inflight Products/Air4All

I said this was the most important demonstration at AIX – and I stand by it, allowing powered wheelchairs to be accommodated in the main cabin of an aircraft.

Check the article. It’s a step-change in travel, that desperately needs commercialisation.

Hughes, Thinkom and OneWeb

As we move into the age of Low-Earth Orbit satellites, dense arrays and clusters of mini-satellites, that can deliver high bandwidth and latency, Hughs were demonstrating their antennas, Thinkom was showing the palates and connective was shown off by oneweb.

2 GEO-type Antennas. Ku, Maybe…

MEO, GEO and LEO in a tidy package. 

And there’s a full long writeup in the works. 

Intelsat

It wouldn’t be a show without an Intelsat 2Ku antenna, would it?

They were also showing off their LEO solution too.

Mirus Aircraft Seating

Mirus has been putting their seats on a diet, with the Kestral going down to 7kg, whilst the Hawk is still being offered.
Mirus Kestral

And the Hawk.

Muirhead Leather

When we consider how much leather or material is used to cover a seat, Muirhead Leathers gave a stunning example of how to make good use of a hide.

Three seats that look the same-ish. The seat on the right-hand side is covered by a single hide – increasing the possibility of waste. The middle seat uses one piece for the headrest, and another hide for the body of it – this allows for a far more efficient use of a hide. The seat on the left takes this concept and allows the headrest to be removed – as this is where they find the most wear and tear on a seat.

Panasonic Avionics

We spent a lot of time with Panasonic over the week, as they showed off their Astrova updates for their IFE system, which is now being picked up by several airlines.

Astrova now scales from 13″ as released, right up to 42″, as 13″, 16″, 19″, 22″, 27″, 32″ and 42″ depending on the class and your deployment.

Astrova has a modularity concept, that allows the chin bar to be removed and services, allowing for upgrades to be deployed as needed.

Pansonic Avionics also announced that the power availability would be increased from the initial 67 watts to 100 watts over USB-C. That’s one hell of a jump.

There was also a demonstration of their spatial sound solution that we covered. It’s immersive, I’ll give it that.

Recaro Aircraft Seating

Recaro Aircraft Seating was showing off their new Long Haul Premium Economy Seat, amongst other things. Here is the PL3810

They were demonstrating the R Studio Concept – the next step in the evolution of Business Class seat development for Recaro.

As well as recycled seat concepts and how to reduce further weight from a seat.

Safran Seating

Over to Safran, who was showing off the VISA seat – that will form Air New Zealand’s new Ultra-long haul seating.

As well as that, they were showing off other concepts – including their Vue Single-Alise Business Class seat

As well as their economy-class products.

Tapis

Tapis were showing off their new methods for producing seat covers, as they strive to close the circles in production and development.

How does this translate? Well. Some examples of TAPIS products installed on seats

Installed on a Causeway Aero Group PF3000

Various TAPIS Ultrasuede installed on the Butterfly seat 

Even Colour-matching is possible, with this year’s Pantone Colour of the year (PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta).

ZIM Aero Seating

Finally, we have ZIM Aero Seating showing off their ZIMlite seat, available in Short, Medium and Long Haul configurations.

As well as the seat being used for Luthansa’s Alegris Premium Economy Seat

Next – It’s time to head home. I want to take the easy way out. Sometimes easier is better.

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