APEX FTE EXPO 2026 Agenda Overview

Explore the Complete Event Agenda & Conference Tracks

Anchored by the event theme “Aviation’s New Golden Era: Higher Revenue, Greater Returns & AI ROI”, the APEX FTE EXPO 2026 conference programme brings together global air transport leaders across three core stages: the FTE Premium Conference, APEX Premium Conference, and the free-to-attend EXPO Stage.

Explore the agenda overview below for session timings, key track focus areas, and daily structures as we prepare to transform the future of passenger experience and aviation innovation.

APEX FTE EXPO 2026 Agenda Overview

Tuesday 17 November 2026

13:30 - 15:30
All Tracks

FTE Communities meeting: FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group / FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub

FTE Communities meeting: FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group / FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub

Changi Airport Group will host the members-only FTE Communities meeting, which will take place as part of APEX FTE EXPO 2026 in Singapore this November. The FTE Communities meeting will be open exclusively to Corporate Partners of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub and members of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group. The meeting will bring together airlines, airports, vendors, startups and other forward-thinking companies from across the APAC region and beyond. Attendees can expect inspiring presentations plus plenty of networking opportunities!

18:00 - 20:00
All Tracks

APEX FTE EXPO Welcome Reception

APEX FTE EXPO Welcome Reception

Join us as we kick-off APEX FTE EXPO in style with drinks, delicious canapés, and stunning views of Marina Bay Sands. Our Welcome Reception will be held at BAIA Singapore, offering the perfect setting to take in the iconic skyline.

It’s the ideal opportunity to meet and reconnect with fellow attendees ahead of two inspiring days of learning and networking. Relax, soak up the atmosphere, and start building the conversations and connections that will shape the days ahead.

Co-Sponsored by
West Entertainment

Wednesday 18 November 2026

07:45 - 17:30

Registration Open

08:00 - 18:15

Exhibition Open

09:00 - 09:05

Official Ribbon-cutting and Exhibition Opening

09:20 - 09:40
APEX Premium Stage

Welcome Addresses and Headline Partner Keynote

APEX FTE:

Dr. Joe Leader
Dr. Joe Leader

Group CEO

APEX/FTE/IFSA
Max Gosney
Max Gosney

Managing Director

Future Travel Experience

Welcome to APEX FTE EXPO 2026! Following the official ribbon-cutting to open the show, our APEX FTE hosts will say a few words of introduction to the next two days on the APEX Premium Stage. This is followed by an Opening Keynote delivered by our Headline Partner, Jayson Goh, Executive Vice President, Airport Management at Changi Airport Group.

HEADLINE PARTNER:

Jayson Goh
Jayson Goh

Executive Vice President, Airport Management

Changi Airport Group
09:40 - 10:40
APEX Premium Stage

Opening APEX FTE Keynote Panel Discussion: The State of the Industry

Format & Description:

Setting the scene for the next two days, this high-level, combined APEX and FTE opening keynote session brings global air transport leaders together to examine the comprehensive state of the industry, bridging the gap between ground operations and cabin innovation. In alignment with our main event theme – “Aviation’s New Golden Era: Higher Revenue, Greater Returns & AI ROI” – the panel will dive into how macro-level shifts and advanced technologies are radically driving commercial growth and operational excellence.

On the ground, our panellists will dissect key airport trends, including the transition away from legacy infrastructure and the rollout of pioneering autonomous airport technologies to manage rising passenger demands. In the air, the conversation will shift to major inflight ecosystems, exploring the transformation of IFEC via low-latency LEO connectivity into essential, revenue-generating digital infrastructure across all travel classes, the evolution of “Bring Your Own Device” systems, and hyper-personalised hospitality.

Unified by a shared commitment to digital transformation and strict data governance, our powerhouse panel will demonstrate how data precision and scaling AI can be converted into lasting financial returns and a more holistic passenger experience.

Panellists:

Jayson Goh
Jayson Goh

Executive Vice President, Airport Management

Changi Airport Group
Dr Faizal Bin Yahya
Dr Faizal Bin Yahya

Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies

National University of Singapore
Richard Nuttall
Richard Nuttall

President

Philippine Airlines
Capt. Suresh Bangah
Capt. Suresh Bangah

Group Chief Operating Officer

AirAsia Group

More speakers and details to be announced

10:30 - 11:15
EXPO Stage

From AI to ROI: Creating a magical passenger journey

What happens when every step of the passenger journey becomes smarter, easier, and more rewarding? This session connects AI ambition with the outcomes that count: better service, greater revenue, and lower operating costs. Following a compelling TED-style opening, an interactive panel brings the journey to life. Expect lively exchanges on what scales, where human service matters most, and how passenger time saved translates into stronger loyalty and financial returns.

Shashank Nigam
Shashank Nigam

Founder & CEO

SimpliFlying

 

More speakers to be announced.

10:40 - 11:05
APEX Premium Stage

CEO Keynote: Engineering the world’s most consistent premium airline: How discipline, data, and design have turned excellence Into a system

CEO Keynote: Engineering the world’s most consistent premium airline: How discipline, data, and design have turned excellence Into a system
11:10 - 11:30
FTE Premium Stage

Keynote: Behind the scenes with Cathay Pacific: Embracing innovation to enhance CX, optimise airport operations and empower the workforce

In this exclusive keynote session, Aldric Chau, Regional General Manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania and former General Manager of Digital at Cathay Pacific, will share his insights into how the airline is embracing innovation to elevate the customer experience and airport operations, while empowering its people with technology. Together, these elements are all tied in with the overall aim of strengthening Cathay’s presence across the region.

Aldric Chau
Aldric Chau

Regional General Manager for Southeast Asia and Oceania

Cathay Pacific Airways
11:15 - 11:45
All Tracks

FTE Communities Briefing on Future Travel Experience booth

FTE Communities Briefing on Future Travel Experience booth

Visit the Future Travel Experience booth where you can meet the Captains of both the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub and the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group to learn what makes these communities so unique. The FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub is designed specifically for the individuals and organisations who are at the forefront of digital transformation and innovation. The core themes are Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and the Internet of Things. Meanwhile, the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group brings together the most innovative and progressive baggage supply chain companies, airlines and airports to provide a unique platform for cooperation and industry advancement.

11:30 - 12:30
FTE Premium Stage

The AI and Digital Transformation Forum: Implementing frameworks for AI adoption

The AI and Digital Transformation Forum: Implementing frameworks for AI adoption

Format & Description:

In this insightful session, discover how to successfully implement strategic frameworks for scalable AI adoption across live operations.

The moderator will showcase real-world deployment blueprints, examining how governance, data protection, and operational frameworks must evolve to safely integrate AI. This scene-setting presentation will then lead into a dynamic panel discussion that explores its implementation.

Gain actionable insights into managing risk, maintaining system resilience, and preparing frontline teams for tech-driven change. You’ll leave with a practical roadmap for aligning operating models, securing data workflows, and unlocking measurable efficiency gains that significantly improve the passenger experience.

Part 1:

Moderator’s scene-setting presentation on the frameworks, regulation etc for AI.

Part 2:

Best practice-led panel discussion 

Moderator:

Javed Malik
Javed Malik

Founder

Bytes not Bricks

Panellists:

Glen Francis
Glen Francis

Strategic Advisor

Google
Azman B. Ahmad
Azman B. Ahmad

Head of Customer Experience

AirBorneo Airways

More speakers and details to be announced

11:30 - 12:30
EXPO Stage

IFSA Session 1: The value of hospitality: Aviation's greatest asset?

IFSA Session 1: The value of hospitality: Aviation's greatest asset?

FORMAT & DESCRIPTION:

As passenger expectations evolve, the intersection of technology and compliance defines the future of onboard hospitality. This two-part IFSA session, beginning with a scene-setting presentation before moving into a panel discussion, explores how leading airlines translate data analytics and AI into highly personalised, wellness-focused inflight hospitality, while maintaining rigorous operational safety across Asia. This two-part session seeks to challenge conventional thinking by exploring the role of hospitality as a strategic business asset rather than simply a service function, and raise critical questions that every airline leader should be asking.

A special scene-setting presentation from IFSA will ponder the question: What business are airlines really in? Is it transportation, hospitality, or both? Through comparisons with other industries faced with similar conundrums, we ask: what do we do well at and where do we need to improve? Monetising brand experience is more than just picking the right destinations, reducing prices, or successfully upselling ancillaries. Airlines struggle to translate hospitality into measurable commercial value. Why? And does it make a difference?

The presenter will also explore how the value of hospitality has evolved, why it has become increasingly difficult to quantify, and what that means for revenue. The challenges of investment decisions and long-term brand performance are addressed, presenting a case for executives to understand the true value of better F&B and service, and defining concerns should this be ignored.

Our expert panel of industry executives will then discuss practical approaches, share diverse perspectives, and explore how airlines can address one of the industry’s most important strategic challenges.

Part 1:

Scene-setting presentation: What business are airlines really in? Is it transportation, hospitality, or both? (20 mins)

Part 2:

Panel discussion: Practical solutions to airline hospitality challenges (40 mins)

Moderator:

Jeremy Clark
Jeremy Clark

CEO

JCConsulting

PANELLISTS:

Robert Smithson
Robert Smithson

Executive General Manager Product

dnata Catering Australia
Justin Koen
Justin Koen

Head of Culinary

Air New Zealand
Mark Ross-Smith
Mark Ross-Smith

CEO

Loyalty Status Co

More speakers and details to be announced

11:30 - 12:30
APEX Premium Stage

Inflight Focus: From inflight entertainment to intelligent engagement: Developing the next-generation platforms that will engage, connect and inspire passengers

Format & Description:

Modern IFEC has evolved from static catalogues into intelligent digital ecosystems, leveraging AI recommendation engines and hybrid streaming to provide real-time, context-aware engagement. By partnering with studios like Netflix and Disney, airlines are rethinking their strategies, using data analytics to curate content and integrate targeted e-commerce. This in turn is creating a continuous, personalised connection that drives ancillary revenue and passenger loyalty. This two-part session showcases how some of these successes are shaping the next-gen passenger experience – the sky really is the limit.

Part 1:

Case studies

Moderator:

Maryann Simson
Maryann Simson

Director

Jetway Communications

Joint Presentation:

Seatback or no seatback: How ZIPAIR and Axinom are redesigning the long-haul cabin experience

Stefanie Schuster
Stefanie Schuster

Chief Commercial Officer

Axinom

Presentation:

Andy Masson
Andy Masson

Senior Vice President, Product Management and Strategy

Panasonic

Viasat, speaker tbc

Part 2:

Exclusive Interview: BBC Studios takes to the skies

Dr. Joe Leader
Dr. Joe Leader

Group CEO

APEX/FTE/IFSA
Zina Neophytou
Zina Neophytou

SVP Out of Home & BBC News Commercial Development

BBC Studios

In this exclusive interview, we hear how a pioneering new service from BBC Studios – the world’s first fully rights-cleared streaming platform developed for airlines – is set to transform the inflight entertainment industry. Developed with Panasonic Avionics, it brings together world‑class BBC Studios content, an intuitive passenger experience, and a modern, continuously refreshed programming slate – all fully optimised for airlines and passengers.

More speakers and details to be announced

12:30 - 13:00
All Tracks

Tech & Innovation Tours – Inflight Services & Hospitality

Tech & Innovation Tours – Inflight Services & Hospitality

The popular Tech & Innovation Tours on the exhibition floor allow attendees to join guided tours and meet exhibitors with relevant products, services, and concepts. You can expect curated tours from solution providers that could include some of the following: Inflight Services & Hospitality, Airport Technology & Pre-Travel, IFC/Satellite Connectivity, Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity and Cabin Design.

13:00 - 14:00
All Tracks

Speed Networking Forum: Discover the Airlines

Speed Networking Forum: Discover the Airlines

Following its highly successful debut at APEX FTE EMEA in Dublin, and FTE Global in Dallas, the initiative comes to Singapore is bigger than ever. This airline-focused session offers attendees the chance to book guaranteed 5-minute introductory meetings with multiple airline buyers who will be hosting meeting tables.

The emphasis is on fostering airline-supplier collaborations on new technologies and sowing the seeds for long-term profit boosting business partnerships.

Participation is included at no additional cost as part of your APEX FTE EXPO Premium registration, although places are limited and meetings will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

13:00 - 13:30
EXPO Stage

IFSA Session - dnata Singapore Chef Showcase

IFSA Session - dnata Singapore Chef Showcase

Experience the flavors of Singapore with dnata’s culinary team in a live chef demonstration featuring two dishes that showcase local heritage while highlighting their potential for airline catering. The team will prepare Dry Laksa, a Peranakan-inspired noodle dish reimagined in a convenient, flight-friendly format, and Ondeh Ondeh, a traditional pandan-infused sweet filled with gula melaka and coated in coconut. Attendees will gain insight into how authentic local flavors can be adapted for efficient inflight production and premium cabin menus, followed by a tasting of both dishes.

14:00 - 14:30
FTE Premium Stage

Special session: Innovation at Changi Airport Group

In this exclusive session, discover what’s possible with Changi Airport’s pioneering autonomous vehicles. Get an update on the rollout to date, lessons learned and next steps for Changi Airport Group.

Presentation:

Autonomous operations at Changi Airport

Jason Lin
Jason Lin

Vice President Airport Operations Strategy & Transformation

Changi Airport Group

In this exclusive session, discover what’s possible with Changi Airport’s pioneering autonomous vehicles. Get an update on the rollout to date, lessons learned and next steps for Changi Airport Group.

PRESENTATION:

Terminal X: How Changi Airport Group is building a campus for digital innovation and transformation

Jeffrey Loke
Jeffrey Loke

Senior Vice President, DIVA (Digital Factory)

Changi Airport Group

Jeffrey Loke reveals all about Changi Airport Group’s recently launched Terminal X, which is designed to bring innovators together under one roof. This dynamic space aims to foster collaboration, spark creativity, and empower CAG’s teams to launch groundbreaking ideas that shape the future of travel. Terminal X features unique spaces like a makers’ lab, UI/UX testing facilities, and immersive storytelling chambers – all crafted to support and showcase Changi Airport’s continuous innovation journey.

14:00 - 14:30
APEX Premium Stage

The cabin as a growth engine: How personalisation and retail innovation have created measurable value at altitude

Intelligent retail ecosystems have transformed the cabin into a data-driven revenue engine. By leveraging AI and IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC), airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines are providing personalised, real-time offers – from mid-flight seat upgrades to curated dining – based on passenger behaviour and loyalty status.

Supported by connectivity partners, these platforms are synchronising airborne and ground systems for seamless, contactless payments. This equilibrium between commercial precision and ethical data governance ensures cabin time is no longer a lost opportunity, but a quantifiable contributor to ancillary revenue and passenger loyalty. Our speakers deep-dive into the potential.

Moderator:

Maryann Simson
Maryann Simson

Director

Jetway Communications
Ekrem Dimbiloglu
Ekrem Dimbiloglu

Managing Director, Onboard Strategy & Experience

Delta Air Lines

More speakers and details to be announced

14:00 - 15:00
EXPO Stage

Bringing the people with you: Are we missing the secret sauce in successful tech implementation?

FORMAT & DESCRIPTION:

With so much attention focused on the game-changing role of AI, autonomous vehicles and advanced robotics – have we lost sight of one of the most important aspects of effective digitisation: winning employee buy-in for change? What is the performance enhancing power of properly engaging our staff in the selection and deployment of exciting new technologies? How do we overcome resistance to change and reshape mindsets to see technologies as friend not foe in future job security and satisfaction? And, most fundamentally of all, what more needs to be done to create a better gender balance?

Our all-female airline Power Panel encompassing on the ground and in the air operations unpicks these crucial topics.

MODERATOR:

Michelle Low
Michelle Low

Board Director Membership & Mentorship

Women in Aviation Singapore Chapter

Panellists:

Linda Patrice Celestino
Linda Patrice Celestino

VP Guest Experience

Riyadh Air
Ong Min Hui
Ong Min Hui

Group Chief Transformation and Customer Experience Officer

Malaysian Aviation Group (MAG)

More speakers and details to be announced

14:30 - 15:00
APEX Premium Stage

CEO Keynote: Designing a global experience powerhouse: How premium vision, network scale, and digital ambition have fostered enduring loyalty

CEO Keynote: Designing a global experience powerhouse: How premium vision, network scale, and digital ambition have fostered enduring loyalty
14:30 - 15:00
FTE Premium Stage

How innovative airport development efforts are elevating the passenger experience and operational efficiency

With air transport passenger numbers in the region set to rise at pace over the coming years, discover how some of APAC’s most innovative and inspiring airport expansion strategies are scaling up their operations to meet future challenges – and bringing air transport passengers with them.

More speakers and details to be announced

15:00 - 15:30
All Tracks

Tech & Innovation Tours – Airport Technology & Pre-Travel

Tech & Innovation Tours – Airport Technology & Pre-Travel

The popular Tech & Innovation Tours on the exhibition floor allow attendees to join guided tours and meet exhibitors with relevant products, services, and concepts. You can expect curated tours from solution providers that could include some of the following: Inflight Services & Hospitality, Airport Technology & Pre-Travel, IFC/Satellite Connectivity, Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity and Cabin Design.

15:30 - 16:30
FTE Premium Stage

In Focus: Japan – innovation, future trends and strategies

Gain an exclusive preview of some of the technologies set to feature at FTE’s next World Innovation Summit, which takes place in March 2027 in Tokyo, Japan.

This two-part session will start with an exclusive joint presentation from JAL and TIAT. Both companies share a vision to shape the future of airports and enhance customer experience value through the proactive use of advanced technologies and Japanese hospitality Omotenashi hospitality. Insights into digital identity, a key component in realising this vision of future travel, will also be shared.

Moderator:

Max Gosney
Max Gosney

Managing Director

Future Travel Experience

Part 1:

JAL and TIAT Special Presentation

Ryohei Mishima
Ryohei Mishima

Vice President, Airport Operations

Japan Airlines
Naoyuki Segawa
Naoyuki Segawa

Vice President, Digital Transformation Development

Tokyo International Airport Terminal at Haneda (TIAT)
15:30 - 16:15
EXPO Stage

Innovation Showcase Part 1 – In-flight CX, commercial and operational innovation

In this insightful quickfire session, our airline CX experts share some of the operational secrets to next-level customer service from around the globe.

Moderator:

James Samperi
James Samperi

Managing Partner

Engine

Panellists:

Ambar Franco
Ambar Franco

Vice President Customer Experience

Star Alliance
Jonathan De Oliveira
Jonathan De Oliveira

Director, Customer Experience

Azerbaijan Airlines
Andres Castañeda
Andres Castañeda

Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Experience Officer

Aeromexico
Christopher Read
Christopher Read

Former Senior Strategy, Corporate Development and Transformation Executive

Air Canada

More speakers and details to be announced

15:30 - 16:30
APEX Premium Stage

Winning the Network Advantage: How Smart Multi-Network Connectivity Improves Passenger Experience and Creates New Value

FORMAT & DESCRIPTION:

Satellite strategy has shifted from being a supplementary amenity to a mission-critical digital backbone. By orchestrating next-generation multi-network and multi-orbit architectures, airlines are working alongside an ecosystem of low-latency LEO satellites, high-throughput GEO and MEO constellations, enterprise network integrators, and flat-panel antenna manufacturers to deliver fibre-like connectivity in the air.

Airlines are leveraging this diverse supplier web for seamless gate-to-gate streaming and real-time operational intelligence, including AI diagnostics and crew communication. This infrastructure is driving ancillary revenue through sponsored tiers and digital marketplaces while maintaining rigorous data governance.

Reliable connectivity – once the preserve of premium travellers – is now an essential part of the passenger experience. By integrating advanced satellite constellations with managed ground networks, the modern aviation industry is rapidly transforming the cabin into a high-performance environment, fostering deeper passenger loyalty and sustainable economic value at altitude.

Attendees will gain a clear blueprint for navigating multi-vendor IFC contracts, optimizing cross-network switching, and maximizing ancillary revenue from the cabin-connected ecosystem.

Moderator:

Seth Miller
Seth Miller

Contributing Editor

PaxEx.Aero

Panellists:

Philippe Schleret
Philippe Schleret

VP of Aviation

Telesat
Lola de Iturbe Verea
Lola de Iturbe Verea

Entertainment & Connectivity Director

Aeromexico

More speakers and details to be announced

16:30 - 17:00
APEX Premium Stage

Closing CEO Keynote Interview: Ethiopian Airlines: Carrying the Spirit of Africa into Aviation’s New Golden Age

16:30 - 17:00
All Tracks

Tech & Innovation Tours – IFC/Satellite Connectivity

Tech & Innovation Tours – IFC/Satellite Connectivity

The popular Tech & Innovation Tours on the exhibition floor allow attendees to join guided tours and meet exhibitors with relevant products, services, and concepts. You can expect curated tours from solution providers that could include some of the following: Inflight Services & Hospitality, Airport Technology & Pre-Travel, IFC/Satellite Connectivity, Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity and Cabin Design.

16:45 - 17:30
EXPO Stage

How the latest ancillary revenue trends are redefining travel booking, loyalty, engagement and experiences

In this insightful session, we explore the latest retail and ancillary trends that are transforming the end-to-end customer journey and creating new revenue opportunities along the way. Hear from the industry pioneers who are shifting the dial on these trends, revealing how airlines can turn every touchpoint into a measurable revenue engine while elevating the traveller experience.

Speaker:

Brandon Capps
Brandon Capps

Founder & CEO

VibeQuest

More speakers and details to be announced.

17:00 - 17:05
APEX Premium Stage

Day 1 closing remarks

17:45 - 18:15
All Tracks

FTE APAC Pioneer Awards & Hall of Fame 2026 Ceremony

FTE APAC Pioneer Awards & Hall of Fame 2026 Ceremony
18:30 - 20:30
All Tracks

FTE Unofficial Sunset Social (Open to FTE Premium Pass Holders)

FTE Unofficial Sunset Social (Open to FTE Premium Pass Holders)

Wrap up the first day of the event with a relaxed, unofficial social – perfect for those looking to unwind and enjoy evening drinks with industry friends. Join fellow attendees at Oche Clarke Quay, located in Singapore’s premier riverside lifestyle and entertainment precinct, for a casual evening of lively conversation, refreshing drinks, and a vibrant atmosphere.

Set against one of the city’s most iconic waterfront backdrops, it’s the ideal way to relax, connect with colleagues both new and established and keep the connections flowing long after the exhibition floor closes.

Thursday 19 November 2026

07:45 - 17:30

Registration Open

08:00 - 18:00

Exhibition Open

09:30 - 10:00
APEX Premium Stage

Opening CEO Keynote: Transforming Asia-Pacific connectivity: Fiji Airways’ innovation vision

In this fascinating keynote to open our Day 2 programme, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Airways Paul Scurrah AM will reveal how the airline is engineering one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most distinctive growth stories. Powered by world-class Fijian hospitality, wellness-led innovation, and a culturally authentic end-to-end customer experience, the airline is redefining long-haul travel under its vision as the “World’s Happiest Airline.”

Scurrah will share how Fiji Airways turns the journey itself into a gateway to Oceania through premium localised partnerships, compelling content, and a uniquely Pacific approach to care. Crucially, the session will explore how the airline is maximising its strategic transit hubs – particularly Singapore Changi – to seamlessly funnel travellers from across Southeast Asia, India, and the wider APAC region into the South Pacific network.

The keynote will also detail how deeper integration into oneworld Alliance, alongside enhanced regional partnership ecosystems, is unlocking major commercial growth, driving loyalty, and boosting tourism capacity. Scurrah will demonstrate how cross-border airline alliances, regional loyalty networks, and national tourism strategies can unite to define the future of the travel experience in Asia-Pacific.

Moderator:

Dr. Joe Leader
Dr. Joe Leader

Group CEO

APEX/FTE/IFSA

Speaker:

Paul-Scurrah-AM

10:05 - 10:50
FTE Premium Stage

Think Tank: How startup innovations are creating new revenue & business opportunities across APAC

Format:

Panel/Fireside discussion on startup investment

Asia is consistently bucking the global airline startup investment trend. In this quickfire discussion, our panel will investigate what is driving this and why, how AI and fintech are changing the dynamic, the risks and opportunities across the region, and where the proven successes and collaborative potential lie. What can other parts of the world learn from this?

Moderator:

Javed Malik
Javed Malik

Founder

Bytes not Bricks

More speakers and details to be announced

10:05 - 11:05
APEX Premium Stage

Access at 35,000 feet: How IFEC accessibility has expanded inclusion, compliance, and passenger empowerment

FORMAT & DESCRIPTION:

Accessible design is rapidly transitioning from a regulatory requirement to a key differentiator of premium travel, aligning with APEX World Class principles. Airlines are transforming inflight entertainment and connectivity by integrating features like voice navigation, screen readers, and customisable interfaces to empower passengers and promote independent usage. This is being driven by global regulatory momentum, while data-driven insights and personal device integration is increasing passenger satisfaction and loyalty. Ultimately, accessibility is becoming a fundamental part of airline IFEC strategy and a key strategic driver towards a more seamless passenger experience – with airlines in APAC leading the way towards a smarter cabin.

In this session, hear from some of the region’s trailblazers in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at 35,000 feet.

PANELLISTS:

Eduardo Duran
Eduardo Duran

Senior Director of Software Products

RAVE Aerospace

More speakers and details to be announced

10:05 - 11:05
EXPO Stage

FTE Baggage Innovation Summit

FTE Baggage Innovation Summit

FORMAT & OVERVIEW:

Explore some of the latest baggage innovations shaping future travel and discover new concepts designed to drive capacity and efficiency that meet increasing demand across the APAC region and beyond.

This two-part session will begin with a scene-setting presentation from the moderator highlighting emerging technologies addressing rising passenger demands, along with BOOST updates from key members.

A panel discussion will then follow, during which several key thought-provoking questions will be examined: Is innovation moving fast enough as the enabler shaping the foundational systems of baggage handling? How are current operational frameworks evolving? And what collaborative approaches must the industry adopt to support such rapid transformation? Our experts share their views.

Moderator & Presenter:

Darin Juby
Darin Juby

Head of Transformation

Future Travel Experience

Presenter:

Daniel Goundar
Daniel Goundar

Region Leader - Asia-Pacific

Brock Solutions

More speakers and details to be announced

11:00 - 11:30
All Tracks

Tech & Innovation Tours – Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity

Tech & Innovation Tours – Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity

The popular Tech & Innovation Tours on the exhibition floor allow attendees to join guided tours and meet exhibitors with relevant products, services, and concepts. You can expect curated tours from solution providers that could include some of the following: Inflight Services & Hospitality, Airport Technology & Pre-Travel, IFC/Satellite Connectivity, Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity and Cabin Design.

11:30 - 12:00
APEX Premium Stage

APEX Thought Leadership Exclusive: AI as aviation’s advantage: How intelligence has strengthened reliability, personalisation, and operational excellence

KEYNOTE PANELLISTS:

Levy Halevy
Levy Halevy

Chief Executive Officer

EL AL Israel Airlines

More speakers and details to be announced

11:30 - 12:30
EXPO Stage

Setting the blueprint for next-gen cabin design

This inspiring best practice session will start with a scene-setting presentation from Airbus, and then lead into several case studies highlighting the very best in cabin design innovation set to transform passenger comfort and wellbeing.

Ingo Wuggetzer
Ingo Wuggetzer

Vice President, Cabin Marketing

Airbus
11:30 - 12:30
FTE Premium Stage

Making autonomous airport operations a reality – inspiration from the first movers

Autonomous operations at Alaska Airlines: Lessons learned, next steps, and the long-term vision 

Gus Naughton
Gus Naughton

Principal Software Engineer – Innovation

Alaska Airlines
12:00 - 12:30
APEX Premium Stage

APEX Exclusive – Ethiopian Airlines: Leading at scale across Africa

We are delighted to present Samson Arega Bekele, who serves as the Vice President of the APEX Board of Directors alongside his role as Group VP of Customer Experience at Ethiopian Airlines. This candid conversation with APEX Group CEO, Joe Leader, will focus on the unique operational realities of managing customer excellence across a highly diverse continent.

Arega will share real-world leadership strategies for scaling premium service, integrating multi-hub digital networks, and deploying next-gen technology while honouring local cultural nuances across Ethiopian Airlines’ vast expanding footprint.

Moderator:

Dr. Joe Leader
Dr. Joe Leader

Group CEO

APEX/FTE/IFSA

Speaker:

Samson Arega Bekele
Samson Arega Bekele

Group Vice President Customer Experience

Ethiopian Airlines
12:30 - 13:00
All Tracks

Tech & Innovation Tours – Cabin Design

Tech & Innovation Tours – Cabin Design

The popular Tech & Innovation Tours on the exhibition floor allow attendees to join guided tours and meet exhibitors with relevant products, services, and concepts. You can expect curated tours from solution providers that could include some of the following: Inflight Services & Hospitality, Airport Technology & Pre-Travel, IFC/Satellite Connectivity, Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity and Cabin Design.

13:00 - 14:00
All Tracks

Speed Networking Forum: Discover the Airports

Speed Networking Forum: Discover the Airports

Following its highly successful debut at APEX FTE EMEA in Dublin and at FTE Global in Dallas, the initiative comes to Singapore and is bigger than ever. This airport-focused session offers attendees the chance to book guaranteed 5-minute introductory meetings with multiple airline buyers who will be hosting meeting tables.

The emphasis is on fostering airline-supplier collaborations on new technologies and sowing the seeds for long-term profit boosting business partnerships.

Participation is included at no additional cost as part of your APEX FTE EXPO Premium registration, although places are limited and meetings will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

14:00 - 15:00
FTE Premium Stage

The future-proofed airport of tomorrow: From tech-first facilities to secondary connectivity

Hear from pioneering industry innovators laying the foundations for future airports and operations. How are airports planning for unprecedented passenger growth, what will the tech-enabled airport of the future look like, and what are the biggest opportunities for secondary and regional airports?

SPEAKERS:

Adam Rowe
Adam Rowe

Chief of Aviation

Queensland Airports Ltd
Ching-Hock Chua
Ching-Hock Chua

General Manager & Aviation Consultant

Changi Airports International
14:00 - 15:00
EXPO Stage

IFSA Session 2: Does Ownership Matter? The Future of Airline Catering Models

IFSA Session 2: Does Ownership Matter? The Future of Airline Catering Models

FORMAT & DESCRIPTION:

As airlines look to elevate onboard hospitality, the way catering is structured and managed can be just as important as what is ultimately delivered to the passenger. This panel will explore the evolving airline catering landscape, from fully in-house operations and outsourced models to joint ventures and hybrid approaches. Industry leaders will examine how airlines balance control, expertise, cost, quality and innovation and discuss whether ownership truly drives better outcomes. The discussion will also consider how local market conditions shape the right model and what lessons can be learned from recent transformations across the industry.

SPEAKER:

Sagar Sanjay Dighe
Sagar Sanjay Dighe

CEO

Malaysia Airline Group Catering Operations

More speakers and details to be announced

14:00 - 15:00
APEX Premium Stage

Next Generation Seating Standards: How a New Generation of Cabin Platforms Has Redefined Privacy, Comfort, and Industrial Reliability

FORMAT & DESCRIPTION:

Leading full-service airlines – from APAC and beyond – are treating seating as a critical competitive advantage by adopting modular cabin platforms that integrate privacy, digital connectivity, and passenger comfort. These next-generation designs prioritise four key areas – passenger experience, digital integration, industrial scalability, and regional manufacturing – to balance luxury with efficiency.

This session reviews three of the top seating programmes that will influence the full-service airline fleet from 2026 to 2030, and leading seat manufacturers with established presence in Asia and beyond through either their own manufacturing and/or assembly and/or support capabilities in the region. Furthermore, this session will highlight how current cabin architectures can provide both passenger experience excellence and dependable industrial execution at scale.

PRESENTERS:

Beautiful Seats, Fulfilled Promises: Air France La Première

Fabien Pelous
Fabien Pelous

Executive Vice President, Customer Experience

Air France

The New Cabin Equation: Balancing Comfort, Weight and Sustainability

Alain Beaumont
Alain Beaumont

VP Commercial APAC

Expliseat
Derek Tang
Derek Tang

General Manager

FF (FutureFlite) AUSTRALIA CO PTY LTD

More speakers and details to be announced

15:00 - 15:30
APEX Premium Stage

CEO Keynote: Dr. Andrés Conesa, CEO, Aeromexico

Dr. Andrés Conesa, the longstanding CEO of Aeromexico and SkyTeam Chairman, will deliver this highly anticipated keynote ahead of his Lifetime Achievement Award presentation this evening. He will highlight Aeromexico’s journey to becoming a top global airline, focusing on operational excellence, fleet modernisation, digital transformation, and putting customer experience at the forefront of aviation strategy.

15:15 - 16:00
EXPO Stage

Innovation spotlight: The power of industry collaborations to future proof and innovate

PRESENTER:

Mark Stubbings
Mark Stubbings

Chief Commercial Officer, dnata Catering & Retail, Australia & Southeast Asia

dnata

More speakers and details to be announced

15:15 - 17:30
All Tracks

The SoarAI Summit and SimpliFlying AI Awards

The SoarAI Summit and SimpliFlying AI Awards

The SoarAI Summit, delivered in partnership with SimpliFlying, will showcase how AI is moving from experimentation to real-world deployment across the aviation industry. Opening with a fireside discussion featuring senior aviation leaders, the programme will feature live presentations from finalists across three categories: AI in the Air, AI on the Ground, and AI in Partnership. Each category will spotlight AI deployments delivering measurable results, followed by moderated discussions exploring their practical applications and results. The afternoon will culminate in the SimpliFlying AI Awards, recognising three outstanding achievements in aviation AI.

Moderator:

Shashank Nigam
Shashank Nigam

Founder & CEO

SimpliFlying
15:30 - 16:30
All Tracks

The APEX Best Awards Ceremony

The APEX FTE EXPO 2026 conference culminates with the presentation ceremony for the APEX Best Awards. APEX once again partnered with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s highest-rated travel-organising app, to gather anonymous passenger feedback based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights for the APEX Best Awards. The awards will recognise regional excellence by airlines in seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment and Wi-Fi across the following territories – Central/Southern Asia, Eastern Asia, Greater China & South Pacific.

19:00 - 22:00
All Tracks

APEX Awards Ceremony

APEX Awards Ceremony

The APEX FTE EXPO concludes at the Swissôtel The Stamford with the highly anticipated presentation of the APEX Awards, celebrating excellence in passenger experience across the regions.

In partnership with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s highest-rated travel-organising app – the awards are based on anonymous, independent passenger feedback, delivering trusted insights that reflect the genuine voice of travellers.

These prestigious awards recognise outstanding performance by individuals, airlines, and suppliers at the top of the industry rewarded for their dedication to service excellence and innovation.

Join your industry peers for an evening of drinks, canapés, and networking, as we come together to honour the airlines raising the bar for passenger experience.

FTE Premium Pass Holders have the option to bolt on the APEX awards for $450 (discounted rate for $50 available to Airlines) as part of their registration. See our registration page for further details: APEX FTE EXPO registration

Co-Sponsored by
Thales
Spafax