Expansion Encompasses Four Large-Scale Global Events alongside FTE Innovation & Startup Hub to Advance Airline Industry
(NEW YORK) – The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) has agreed to acquisition terms for the purchase of Future Travel Experience (FTE), bringing the global events, media, and innovation hub company under APEX’s nonprofit direction. Alongside all of APEX’s current global events, APEX will now feature FTE Global, FTE Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA), FTE Ancillary, FTE Asia EXPO, FTE Media, and the FTE Innovation & Startup Hub.
With the acquisition of FTE, APEX will now serve the end-to-end airline passenger experience with International Flight Services Association (IFSA). This will allow APEX to immediately hit new levels of airline engagement and supplier participation while increasing the value the association provides to the entire air travel industry from in-the-air to on-the-ground.
“APEX with FTE will effectively double our size and scope to be a more powerful driving force for industry change and collaboration serving all of our global members,” APEX/IFSA CEO Dr. Joe Leader stated. “The idea for this approach came from the APEX Board of Directors strategic planning session early last year. Combining the powers of APEX, IFSA, and FTE together furthers our ability to inspire global air-transport stakeholders to accelerate the advancement of the future travel experience and in-flight service.”
APEX/IFSA members will continue to see the existing price structure for existing APEX and IFSA events in addition to discounted member rates for attending FTE events around the globe. The acquisition engagement is expected to increase the association’s overall membership, as well as significantly increase the overlap of attendance at regional events by attracting new airlines, suppliers, and on-the-ground service providers to the organization’s already robust membership.
“We have already enjoyed incredibly strong working relations with four years of in-depth partnership with APEX,” said FTE Founder Daniel Coleman. “I think the association has a huge role to play in driving important industry change that we are very proud to now more directly support. By teaming up, we can strengthen and amplify our respective propositions greatly. There remains a tremendous, real opportunity now to consolidate and build mega-events together in the territories of Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and the Americas to better serve our global industry.”
APEX members are encouraged to join the full slate of relevant, thought-leading FTE events around the globe. In addition, APEX airlines and technology leaders should engage with the FTE Innovation & Startup Hub. APEX will maintain FTE’s branding, identity, innovation, and independence as the two organizations become more closely intertwined and integrated over a four-year time horizon.
APEX hosts multiple industry gatherings around the world. Click here for a list of all upcoming events. For more information about APEX, please visit apex.aero, sign up for the APEX Daily Experience e-newsletter, or follow APEX on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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About The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)
Serving as the second largest international airline association, APEX encompasses a network of airlines and key business partners that are committed to providing a world-class airline experience for passengers around the globe. Established in 1979 as a global non-profit, APEX reinvests all of its resources to better serve its members. Every day, APEX members evaluate customer experience through an influential community and are improve every aspect of the airline experience: from designing, building and installing seating, entertainment and communications systems on commercial aircraft, to airport lounges and inflight dining. Today, APEX works tirelessly to strengthen the airline industry and enable business opportunities through thought leadership, innovation, networking and recognition. For more information, please visit www.apex.aero.
About Future Travel ExperienceFuture Travel Experience (FTE) was established in 2006 serving as an independent events, online media and thought leadership business dedicated to improving the end-to-end passenger experience and business performance. Having started with a standalone event in North America, FTE now hosts four annual events around the world – FTE Global, FTE Asia EXPO, FTE EMEA, and FTE Ancillary. – which are attended by thousands of senior air transport, travel and technology industry figures each year. In addition, FTE delivers the FTE Innovation & Startup Hub, the world’s first air transport innovation network. For more information, visit www.futuretravelexperience.com.