Hot Topic: Aircraft Interiors Expo 2004

If you are in charge of your company’s IFE sales promotion activities, you had better not miss next year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo 2005 in Hamburg, Germany. Over 20 IFE and Connectivity related companies displayed booths at this year’s conference and exposition, and we are told that next year the show will add one room dedicated to our favorite subjects. By way of a historical note, this show grew from one room of vendors some 7 years ago, and this year the 2004 crowd filled 7 halls, as well as, some upper floor spaces with seats, galleys, service providers, airframe manufacturers, lighting and interior panel manufacturers, amenities distributors, regulatory organizations, connectivity solutions, and almost anything else that shows-up in the cabin of a commercial aircraft. Unlike the WAEA, the exposition is free but the conference sessions (speakers) were paid entrance. The goofy layout and time schedule aside, presentations were very educational, particularly the connectivity and IFE meetings; however, airline attendance seemed light even though they were well represented. We counted or met some 25 airline (groups) but we suspect that many more were represented. (Unfortunately, the UK International Press, show organizers, were unable to give us a final tally). Fast becoming the European IFE show-and-tell, this venue is a winner so mark your calendar for April 5 – 7, 2005. We have provided a few show images to give our readers a look in, and around, the exposition. There was some grousing about hotel costs and Internet service availability, so here are a few tips for next years show: 1. Stay at an InterCity Hotel (German domestic chain), you can find them on Hotels.com for about $100 a night. Spartan but functional, the Altona property is 2 stops south of the Congress Exposition grounds. The hotel is situated adjacent to the subway and rail stations. The real value is the wireless internet connection… it works, and it costs about $11 per day. 2. The subway does connect to the airport but a shuttle bus links it to the last subway stop… take a taxi, to and from the hotel 3. Be sure to get a hotel card, it accompanies check-in and gives visitors free travel privileges on the excellent Hamburg subway system.

http://www.airfax.com/airfax/ifexpress/ifexpress04062004.htm