WTCE Reveals Steps to Sustainability Lineup
World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) has unveiled the exhibitor lineup for its "Steps to Sustainability" feature, spotlighting more than 20 suppliers delivering circular‑material products, waste‑reduction technologies, and lightweight inflight equipment. The curated trail, developed with sustainability ambassador Matt Crane, includes companies such as Banana Cph, Clip Limited, and Global‑Inflight Products, showcasing rescued‑food ingredients, ocean‑recovered plastics, compostable service ware, and fully electric ground‑catering vehicles. These solutions aim to lower airlines’ carbon footprints, improve fuel efficiency, and replace single‑use plastics with recyclable alternatives. The initiative positions WTCE as a hub for practical, scalable sustainability innovations in the aviation hospitality sector.
Devion to Showcase Innovation at WTCE
Devion, a specialist in intelligent automation for airline catering, will debut its new Rivo platform at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE). The showcase highlights RivoLoad, a modular trolley‑loading system derived from a decade‑long partnership with KLM...
GIC International Catering Opens Munich Location
GIC International Catering, a 25‑year veteran of inflight meal production, is opening a second plant near Munich Airport on July 1. The €1.8 million (US$2.1 million) investment adds a 20,000‑meals‑per‑day facility to its existing Frankfurt hub. The move targets airlines seeking a single...
Bottega Shifts Canadian Distribution Strategy After 35 Years
Italian wine and spirits producer Bottega announced a major overhaul of its Canadian distribution network, moving its national representation from long‑time partner Dandurand to Select Wines. The only exception is British Columbia, where Stile Brands will continue handling the brand...
ABC International Strengthens Aviation Supply Chain Position with Lioni Facility
ABC International has opened a 300‑square‑meter production facility in Lioni, Italy, expanding its certified manufacturing capabilities for aircraft cabin interiors. The site, inaugurated in September 2025, meets EASA Part‑21G standards and supports upholstery, branding elements, and composite partitions for line‑fit and...
Bamboo Airways Builds Passenger Trust Through Punctuality and Consistent Service
Bamboo Airways, launched in 2019, positions itself as a full‑service carrier that blends Vietnamese hospitality with a relentless focus on on‑time performance. CEO Truong Phuong Thanh says punctuality is a baseline requirement, earning the airline top OTP rankings in Vietnam...
Philippine Airlines Blends Modernization with Filipino Identity to Redefine Full-Service Travel
Philippine Airlines is rolling out an ambitious fleet‑modernization program that adds next‑generation aircraft, upgraded cabins, expanded entertainment and high‑speed connectivity. The airline’s strategy couples this technology push with a renewed emphasis on its Filipino‑centric hospitality, aiming to create a seamless,...
AIX 2026 Marks 25 Years of Cabin Innovation
The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) celebrated its 25th edition in Hamburg, highlighting a shift from decade‑long cabin refresh cycles to three‑to‑five‑year updates. Event director Archana Dharni noted that cabins have moved from cost centers to core competitive differentiators driven by...
IdeaNova Shifts Inflight Focus From Speed to Experience
IdeaNova is pivoting its inflight entertainment strategy from sheer connectivity speed to a holistic passenger experience. The company’s Inplay AI platform promises personalized, offline‑first content delivery that works even on legacy seat‑back hardware, as demonstrated in a recent Delta partnership. Surveys...
Korean Air Charts Future of Inflight Connectivity with Starlink Integration
Korean Air announced a partnership with SpaceX to equip its long‑haul 777‑300ER and A350‑900 fleet with Starlink satellite‑based Wi‑Fi, promising up to 500 Mbps speeds. The airline, which earned a Five‑Star Global rating for the ninth year, aims to replace its...
Porter Airlines Expands with Free Wi-Fi and New Routes
Porter Airlines has rolled out unlimited free gate‑to‑gate Wi‑Fi on its E195‑E2 fleet, becoming the first Canadian carrier to offer the service at no cost. The airline is expanding beyond Canada and the United States with new routes to Mexico,...
Panasonic Avionics Furthers IFEC Integration in the Cabin Amid Astrova Milestones
Panasonic Avionics closed 2025 with its Astrova inflight entertainment system reaching 100 airline programs across 30 carriers, highlighted by wins with Emirates and flydubai in the Middle East. The company also rolled out its Converix open‑application platform and the Arc™...
Viasat Positions IFC as Strategic Platform for Brand Loyalty
Viasat is positioning inflight connectivity (IFC) as a strategic brand‑building platform for airlines, citing its 2024 Passenger Experience Survey where 75% of travelers say quality Wi‑Fi makes them more likely to rebook. The company’s Amara solution delivers a scalable, multi‑orbit...
STG Aerospace Takes Green Approach to Cabin Lighting
STG Aerospace is expanding its “Eco Everything” concept to cover the full range of emergency floor path marking (FPM) products, using recycled and biodegradable materials across four widths. The saf‑Tglo® eco E1™ line, launched in 2024, now contains over 85% recycled...
F/LIST Shines a Light on Integrated Lighting Technology for the Cabin
F/LIST unveiled its Lightshifter concept at AIX 2026, embedding LED lighting directly into wood‑veneer surfaces for cabin interiors. The system transforms static panels into programmable, softly illuminated touchpoints that can change color, intensity, and pattern on demand. Lightshifter supports full customization...
Muirhead Brings Circularity In-House
Muirhead announced the launch of an in‑house BioPRO foam production facility within the Scottish Leather Group, moving full‑scale manufacturing of its circular foam under one roof. The patented foam incorporates 20% reclaimed protein from Muirhead’s own processes, reducing reliance on...
FlightPath3D Reframes the Role of the Inflight Map
FlightPath3D has upgraded its AI‑driven inflight platform, Luci, with Luci Live, enabling passengers to ask natural‑language questions and receive actionable answers. The system operates both offline, using real‑time flight data, and online via Starlink‑based Cloud Map, which now powers more than...
RAVE Aerospace Builds on Seatback Success
RAVE Aerospace, renamed from Safran Passenger Innovations after Kingswood’s acquisition, is pivoting to seat‑back inflight entertainment (IFE) as the data‑driven hub of the connected cabin. Its new RAVE Ultra OS platform adopts an open‑platform, modular design that lets airlines preserve brand...
Geven Reinforces Position in European Market Ahead of AIX 2026
Geven is leveraging its modular Elemento and Comoda seat platforms to deepen its foothold in Europe ahead of AIX 2026. The Elemento entered Edelweiss’s A350 economy cabin while the Comoda launched on Eurowings, showcasing flexible, lightweight designs with integrated digital...
Guest Column: Mastering the Passenger Experience From Transaction to Journey
In a guest column, Ethiopian Airlines’ Group VP of Customer Experience argues that the airline’s competitive edge now lies in delivering a seamless, end‑to‑end passenger journey rather than merely expanding fleet size or routes. He outlines how Ethiopian maps every...
Guest Column: Why Every Airline Should Be Looking at Embedded Payments
Airlines are urged to adopt embedded payment systems that let passengers order and pay for onboard items directly from their devices, eliminating the need for crew‑mediated transactions. The column argues that friction—having to flag down crew, handle cards, or wait...
PPG Appoints Eric Pateman as Senior Vice President, North America
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has named Eric Pateman as Senior Vice President for North America, covering Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Pateman arrives from Vancouver International Airport, where he served as Chief Experience Officer and helped the...
Flying Food Group Launches Catering Services for Brussels Airlines at JFK and IAD
Flying Food Group (FFG) has launched premium inflight catering for Brussels Airlines at New York’s JFK and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports, covering the carrier’s daily transatlantic flights to Brussels. The service features chef‑crafted menus, premium ingredients, and a scalable delivery model. The move...
Gategroup Secures 75 Percent Stake in KLM Catering Services, Forming Long-Term Partnership
gategroup announced it will purchase a 75% stake in KLM Catering Services (KCS), while KLM retains a 25% share. The deal creates a long‑term strategic partnership to modernize inflight catering at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. gategroup plans to invest in a...
CATRION Partners with Airport Dimensions to Elevate Airport Hospitality in Saudi Arabia
CATRION has teamed up with Airport Dimensions to upgrade airport hospitality across Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030. The partnership introduces the Connecta digital platform and internationally proven lounge concepts, delivering integrated, data‑driven services for airlines and terminals. It expands CATRION’s...
PPG Opens Plaza Premium Lounge at Langkawi International Airport
Plaza Premium Group has opened a newly‑relocated Plaza Premium Lounge at Langkawi International Airport, now the airport’s sole lounge. The upgraded facility offers 63 seats, a private dining area and landside access for both arrivals and departures. Entry costs RM 118...
Porter Airlines Welcomes Carlo Rinaldi as Director, Quebec Market Development
Porter Airlines has named Carlo Rinaldi as Director of Quebec Market Development, tasking him with expanding the carrier’s corporate and agency business in the province. Rinaldi returns with more than 20 years of enterprise sales experience, including a decade previously...
Lufthansa to Serve La Grande Dame by Veuve Clicquot in First Class
Lufthansa will begin serving Veuve Clicquot’s prestige cuvée La Grande Dame on all long‑haul First Class cabins starting at the end of March 2026. The champagne, a Pinot Noir‑dominant blend, is positioned as a permanent feature of the airline’s newly refreshed “Future Onboard...
Air Côte D’Ivoire Elevates Onboard Service with Kaelis Coat Hanger
Air Côte d'Ivoire has rolled out the Kaelis coat hanger to streamline boarding for premium travelers. The three‑wheel system lets cabin crew assign seat numbers directly on the hanger, eliminating the need to collect boarding passes and cutting mix‑ups. Its...
SATS and WORLDCHEFS Launch Global Culinary Certification Program
SATS Ltd. and the World Association of Chefs Societies (WORLDCHEFS) have launched a structured Culinary Staff Training Program that aligns SATS' entire inflight catering workforce with the WORLDCHEFS Global Certification framework. The initiative targets more than 700 culinary professionals across...
AIX 2026 Previews Landmark 25th Edition
Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) will celebrate its 25th edition in Hamburg from April 14‑16, 2026, featuring nearly 500 exhibitors, including 74 newcomers. The milestone event adds a pre‑show evening, a dedicated Passenger Experience Conference, and the Crystal Cabin Awards ceremony....
Gategroup Reflects on 95-Year History
gategroup celebrated its 95‑year anniversary, tracing roots back to Swissair’s 1931 in‑house catering service. The company highlighted its evolution from pure inflight catering into retail, lounge, equipment and packaging solutions. It emphasized a people‑first culture, practical innovation such as smart...
EasyJet Selects Mirus Aircraft Seating Kestral Economy Seat
easyJet has placed an order for Mirus Aircraft Seating’s next‑generation Kestrel Economy seats for its future A320neo and A321neo fleet, beginning with deliveries from 2028. The lightweight seats are over 20% lighter than current models and provide up to two...
Aerotec Group Establishes European Maintenance Hub in Croatia
Aerotec Group has completed the acquisition of Croatia‑based Global Aerotech, turning Rijeka Airport into a central European hub for line and base maintenance, aircraft storage, cabin refurbishment and teardown. The 2,500‑meter runway and 24‑hour IFR capability allow the facility to...
Montreal's MET Airport to Launch Commercial Flights This Summer
Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET) will open a new 21,000‑square‑metre terminal on June 15, 2026, adding nine boarding bridges and a 900‑seat lounge. The facility will initially host Porter Airlines and Pascan Aviation, offering coast‑to‑coast Canadian routes and space for future...
Linstol and Plastic Bank to Offset Impact of WTCE 2026
Linstol announced a partnership with Plastic Bank to offset the equivalent of 100 plastic bottles for each of the 3,650 expected attendees at WTCE 2026. The initiative will prevent roughly 365,000 bottles, or more than 7,300 kg of plastic, from entering oceans...
AirBaltic Partners with InterLnkd to Launch Dynamic Inflight Shopping Experience
Latvian carrier airBaltic has teamed with InterLnkd to embed the AirMall digital marketplace into its Starlink‑powered Skynet Wi‑Fi portal, creating the first global, dynamic inflight shopping experience. The platform gives passengers access to more than 20,000 brands on their personal...
Kaelis Announces Key Leadership Appointments
Kaelis announced a reshuffle of its senior leadership, naming Cato Rabines as the new Chief Commercial Officer and promoting Charlene Heitz and Inés Serra to Regional Director roles in China and EMA & Rail respectively. The changes take effect immediately and are designed...
Linstol Expands Audio Portfolio with Sound by Bose
Linstol announced the addition of Sound by Bose headphones to its inflight entertainment portfolio, bringing a globally recognized audio brand onto aircraft cabins. The partnership leverages Bose’s premium acoustic technology alongside Linstol’s airline‑specific integration expertise. The new offering will be...
John Horsfall Introduces Bedding Collection in Collaboration with Riyadh Air
Riyadh Air is set to launch a bespoke onboard bedding collection created with luxury textile maker John Horsfall. The range includes a bolster cushion, wool‑blend throw, dual‑sided pillows with cooling and warming options, and duvets filled with Re‑Thread® recycled material....
Quvia Launches Sync for Intelligent Edge-to-Cloud Data Mobility
Quvia announced its new product, Quvia Sync, an intelligent edge‑to‑cloud data synchronization solution designed for bandwidth‑constrained environments such as aircraft, ships and offshore platforms. The platform uses AI‑driven path optimization and context‑aware prioritization to move up to one terabyte of...
EgyptAir A350-900 Enters Service with Panasonic Avionics IFEC Solutions
EgyptAir has launched its new A350‑900 equipped with Panasonic Avionics’ full IFEC suite, becoming the first carrier worldwide to operate the Modular Interactive (MI) authoring platform. The cloud‑based MI tool lets the airline swiftly customize and deploy content, while the...
Vueling Expands IFEC Experience with Viasat
Vueling, an IAG airline, has launched a free onboard entertainment portal powered by Viasat. The service streams movies, series and additional features directly to passengers’ personal devices without requiring Wi‑Fi, and is already installed on more than half of the...
Emirates Develops Plant-Powered Dishes to Meet Increasing Demand
Emirates announced that new plant‑based dishes will debut onboard in 2027, expanding its vegan menu across all cabins. The carrier now rotates 488 vegan recipes on 140 routes, a 60% increase since 2024, and serves roughly half a million vegan...
Creative Nature Thins Launch Exclusively on Austrian Airlines
Creative Nature has launched its Lightly Salted, Light & Crunchy Thins on Austrian Airlines’ long‑haul flights, offering a snack that is free from the top 14 allergens and vegan‑friendly. The exclusive partnership was initiated at the World Travel Catering &...
Snackbox To Go Highlights Sustainability Tools
Snackbox To Go will unveil its newest sandwich and snack portfolio at WTCE 2026, featuring pizza bagels and other items designed for sustainability and halal compliance. The company will also debut a Sustainability Monitor, a data‑driven platform that measures the environmental...
Foodcase Unveils New Brand Identity as Global Travel F B Partner
Foodcase has unveiled a refreshed brand identity that positions it as a full‑service food and beverage partner for the global travel industry. The new messaging emphasizes end‑to‑end capabilities, from concept design through onboard execution, across airlines and other travel operators....
Procurall to Showcase Luxury Inflight Solutions at WTCE
Procurall Solutions will exhibit its luxury inflight serviceware at the World Travel Catering Expo (WTCE) 2026, occupying booth 4D50. The showcase features a designer collaboration with Michael Graves, delivering plates, cutlery, and glassware that blend timeless aesthetics with sustainability. Additionally,...
Linstol Joins United Nations Global Compact
Airline supply chain firm Linstor has become a member of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability platform. The membership obligates Linstor to adhere to the UNGC’s Ten Principles covering human rights, labor, environment and anti‑corruption, and...
Automatic Cutlery Sorter Makes Banging Impression at WTCE
Diskomat and Wexiödisk are re‑introducing the ACS400HC Automatic Cutlery Sorter at WTCE after a strong debut last year. The machine can sort up to 5,000 pieces per hour and be programmed for as many as 30 airline or cabin configurations....