Leaders in Aviation Explored the Fast-Changing Landscape of Connectivity, Data, and Onboard Engagement
LOS ANGELES, CA. USA (21 May 2025) – APEX TECH, the aviation industry’s premier event for IFEC technology, returned to Los Angeles, California on 20-21 May to uncover the latest technological breakthroughs transforming the passenger journey. Hosted by the Airline Passenger Experience Association, APEX TECH welcomed more than 130 aviation professionals who networked and contributed to discussions on next-gen IFC solutions, hyper-personalized media content, onboard e-commerce, and other key drivers reshaping how airlines engage with travelers.
During the two-day event, dynamic panel conversations were held featuring aviation industry experts who brought candid insights and thought-provoking dialogue to the stage, including:
IFC REVOLUTION:
The expert panel, consisting of Bill Milroy, Thinkom; Chris Insall, iDirect; Mary Kirby, Runway Girl Network; Mike Moeller, Quvia; and Kenneth McQuillan, JetBlue, explored the critical factors in the marketplace shaping next-gen IFC decisions, such as network performance, global coverage, regulatory alignment, and strategic partnerships.
PERSONALIZING THE INFLIGHT EXPERIENCE:
Industry experts—including Axel Svensson, SAS; Dimitrios Tsirangelos, Spafax; Jonas von Kruechten, Siden; Maneesha Bhate, Thales; Matthew Blay, Inadvia; Mark Cheyney, IAG Loyalty; Michael Holler, Reaktor; and Michael Raasch, Omnevo—discussed how airlines are future-proofing the cabin experience through data-driven personalization, CRM and e-commerce integration, and real-time engagement to boost loyalty and revenue.
FUTURE ONBOARD CONTENT:
The panel of experts—including Bastian Schütz, Meta; Clare Josey, Safran Passenger Innovations; Duncan Jackson, FlightPath3D; Esdra Lamy, Warner Bros Discovery; Jim Nelson, Siden; Maneesha Bhate, Thales; and Seth Miller, Pax.ExAero—shared insights on how modern media habits are evolving passenger engagement and expectations they have towards more personalized, culturally resonant, and format-diverse inflight entertainment strategies.
IFE STRATEGY:
This panel session, with Andre Valera, Touch; Estibaliz Asiain, Anuvu; Jane Hobson, PAX International; Kate Groth, West Entertainment; Paul Colley, Spafax; and Sam Allen, Stellar, examined how airlines are adapting licensing and delivery strategies to meet content demands including quicker refresh cycles and regionally tailored curation.
“At APEX TECH, we witnessed a bold and unified vision for the future of passenger experience,” APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader stated. “Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines provided powerful clarity on their path forward under the Alaska Airlines Group, outlining a shared commitment to guest-first innovation and operational excellence. SAS revealed how its full-fleet Starlink rollout will enable seamless streaming on short-haul flights and deliver a turnkey integration with embedded IFE, reshaping what passengers expect from regional travel. United Airlines made headlines with its announcement that it will soon surpass Delta as the U.S. carrier with the most seatback screens on mainline aircraft, underscoring its investment in onboard engagement. Frontier Airlines outlined a strategic leap forward, committing to onboard power, inflight connectivity, and a fresh customer experience approach designed to redefine its value proposition. Together, these airlines signaled a clear acceleration toward smarter, more personalized, and better-connected journeys, powered by real-time data, unified ecosystems, and a relentless focus on what travelers truly want. The breakthroughs and announcements made at APEX TECH will help drive the next generation of global airline innovation.”
In addition, APEX TECH attendees participated in workshops, case study and break-out sessions that all offered a front-row seat to the evolving strategies in aviation technology and IFEC landscape.
For a full list of upcoming APEX, IFSA, and Future Travel Experience events, please visit APEX Events. For more information about APEX, visit apex.aero, sign up for the APEX Daily Experience e-newsletter, or follow APEX on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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About the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX)
As a global non-profit and one of the world’s largest international airline associations, APEX accelerates the industry with the backing of nearly every major airline and valued supplier. APEX reinvests all its resources to serving its members, strengthening the worldwide airline industry, advancing thought-leadership, fostering business opportunities via events, developing global initiatives, setting key airline standards, and highlighting well-deserved recognition across our industry. In conjunction with both the International Flight Services Association (IFSA) and Future Travel Experience (FTE), APEX serves the full spectrum of the end-to-end travel experience.