Even as the aviation industry pushes harder and harder for passengers to return to the skies, the companies behind the scenes concede that recovery will be a long, slow path. The latest tell on that front is a decision to delay the Aircraft Interiors Expo and World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, typically hosted in early April. The new dats are 31 August to 2 September 2021.
We recognize the industry needs more time to allow for the reopening of borders, lifting of travel restrictions and resuming of services. It is clear that the industry needs to meet in person later in 2021.
– Polly Magraw, Exhibition Director, AIX/WTCE
Polly Magraw, Exhibition Director, AIX/WTCE, is confident the show will bounce back strong in 2021, “Now, more than ever, there is a strong need to reunite, connect and do business. The importance of AIX and WTCE cannot be underestimated as the largest marketplace that brings together key stakeholders from the global supply chain. We are confident that this decision best supports the industry, and in September we will be ready to regroup and look ahead to the future.”
Reed Exhibitions will coordinate a(nother) series of virtual seminars in April to mark the traditional AIX timing, while holding out hope that the industry will be ready for the massive, in-person conference later in the year.
The new timing does present a small challenge in the broader trade show calendar as APEX EXPO and the Future Travel Experience Global shows typically are held in September or October. Pushing all of the major industry events into such a small window reduces the odds of new news at each show and reduces the value for vendors and customers to attend the multiple events. It is unlikely that a customer will need that in-person meeting just a couple weeks after the last one to secure new orders or review new product developments.
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