Representatives of airlines, suppliers of products and services and the media last week headed to Long Beach, California, for the 2024 APEX/IFSA Global EXPO. The event took place from October 28-30.
In common with the 2023 edition, this year’s show was held at Long Beach Convention Center and saw the co-location of three separate shows. The In Flight Services Association (ISFA), Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and Future Travel Experience (FTE) expos were held simultaneously.
Dr Joe Leader, CEO of APEX, opened the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO with a welcome address. That was followed by an onstage interview of Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada, by the BBC’s Michelle Fleury.
Meetings on the show floor got underway early in the afternoon of Monday the 28th and continued until 4.30 pm on Wednesday the 30th.
In addition to booths, where companies showcased their products and services and held meetings, the show floors each had stages for panel discussions. Experts unpicked a range of topics, including the likes of IFE Viewing Religions: The Future of Airline Seatback vs BYOD (bring your own device) on the APEX stage and Green is In! A Path to Greener Airline Inflight Services at the IFSA Innovation Pavilion.
Overall, the mood within Long Beach Convention Center felt upbeat compared to a couple of years ago when airlines and their suppliers were still feeling the hangover of the COVID-19 pandemic. That chapter of modern history felt very much a thing of the past and eyes are now forward focused.
Sustainability is now embedded as an integral part of the onboard industry and it feels like an unwritten rule that products and services feature it in some way.
Beyond the activity within Long Beach Convention Center, which held separate APEX and IFSA welcome receptions on Monday evening, a number of networking events were held in and around Long Beach over the course of the 2024 APEX/IFSA Global EXPO.
Read the full review in the 100th issue of Onboard Hospitality Magazine, out in December.
apex.aero; ifsa.aero; futuretravelexperience.com
