Details have been revealed ahead of the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC), which will return to an in-person format this year.
PEC will return after a two-year hiatus, hosted at the newly renovated Congress Center Hamburg, in Germany, on 13 June 2022, ahead of Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) and the co-located World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, which both return to the Hamburg Messe on 14-16 June 2022.
Leading experts representing companies including Air France, TAP Portugal, Virgin Atlantic, Finnair, Collins Aerospace, Boeing Commerical Airplanes, Safran Cabin and Inmarsat are confirmed to speak, with interactive Q&As set to follow each session, allowing attendees to gain insights into the current trends and challenges facing the industry.
Renewal and Revolution
Launching the conference, a plenary session will focus on the trends and ideas that will drive forward the passenger experience community in its quest for renewal. The organisers said this session will look to inspire and challenge attendees to envision the arc of sustainable, worthwhile business that will be lucrative for aviation and desirable for passengers and wider society. Attendees will hear directly from experts representing TAP Portugal and Virgin Atlantic.
Following a short networking break, the PEC will spilt into two streams running in parallel throughout the afternoon: Rebellious Reconstruction and Integrity in Action.
Rebellious Reconstruction
In many areas of their post-pandemic lives, people have reviewed and often altered their behaviours and values. These sessions will explore how the passenger experience community should best respond to these shifts, from radical ideas to redefine the cabin, to taking action on climate change. Industry experts including representatives from Collins Aerospace, Lift Aero Design, Teague, Diehl Aviation, Unum Aircraft Seating, Cirium, PriestmanGoode and Orson Associates, will consider how to meet the needs and address the values of passengers.
Integrity in action
In the parallel conference stream, representatives from Tangerine, Safran Cabin, Estée Lauder, Viasat, Anuvu, Omnevo, Inmarsat and Reaktor Aero will examine the power of experience and how to elevate it for consumers who want to place human values more evidently first. The organisers commented that people are seeking greater integrity and trustworthiness all the while expecting smooth digital processes to manage their lives in ways that suit their needs or mood. Discussions will examine how airlines and their partners can align with these values to create cabin environments and services that will provide the experiences passengers most desire.
Airline leaders
Closing the conference, Fabien Pelous, senior vice president of customer experience at Air France, will welcome back attendees for the final session of the day as he offers candid insights into how the airline is dealing with the latest trends and passenger expectations. He will be joined by a panel of other industry experts for a roundtable discussion – an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the learnings of the day.
Delegates are then invited to the Passenger Experience Conference Industry Networking Party. Free to attend for conference delegates, it is an opportunity to reconnect, while enjoying live music and international cuisine. For those looking to attend AIX or WTCE but unable to attend the conference, tickets for the Industry Networking party can be purchased during registration.
“Complementing the innovation anticipated at this year’s AIX and WTCE, we are delighted to announce the line-up for this June’s Passenger Experience Conference,” said Polly Magraw, event director. “The pandemic has fundamentally shifted how the aviation sector does business, with an increased focus on building anew for the future and not simply repairing the past. This year’s speaker line-up will help us answer how we should be responding to the different cohorts of passengers who will be in the vanguard of travel recovery while creating flying experiences that meet their needs and addresses their values.”
