Aircraft

The Aircraft Interiors Expo show has seen phenomenal growth since it was first staged in Cannes, France, in 2000, when there were 70 exhibitors and 1,000 visitors. The latest show has signed 450 exhibitors and is expected to host more than 16,000 visitors.

This year is the fifth in which the show has been staged at Hamburg. An extra exhibition hall (Hall 2) has been added, which will host an “Open Concepts and Ideas Forum” aimed at giving exhibitors an opportunity to highlight new products and technologies, including the latest lightweight materials, galley equipment, cabin humidification systems, seating, in-flight entertainment and lighting.

The show has more than 1,300m2 (14,000ft2) of exhibition space in eight halls, one (Hall 6) specifically dedicated to Airbus, a reminder that Airbus’s cabin interiors are finished at its Hamburg Finkenwerder site. For the first time, a complete hall (Hall 9), is dedicated to in-flight entertainment and on-board communications systems.

Among the exhibitors, C&D Zodiac has built a 111m2 “Aerohouse” display to show off long-haul concepts including a bathroom, bedroom and an open-plan living room. Weber will present its new 5750 long-haul tourist-class seat and will introduce its new 7800 business-class seat and Heath Tecna will exhibit concepts aimed at making the best use of space within the A380. B/E Aerospace will showcase its complete range of interior products, advanced lighting systems, passenger and crew oxygen solutions, crew rest areas and galley modifications. Among the smaller companies, Inflight Peripherals will show its integrated noise cancelling audio module recently ordered by British Airways.