Dear friends and colleagues,
Despite the terribly sad aviation tragedies in the U.S. last week there is much for our industry to be optimistic about. Demand for air travel reached record levels in 2024, and growth is expected to continue at around 8% this year, and I have never felt a greater desire by industry stakeholders around the world to forge innovative, and bold, new approaches to improve business performance and the ways we serve our passengers. That said, last week’s events served as a reminder to all that as the industry continues to grow and tap into new opportunities, safety must continue to be the absolute priority.
As we reflect on this, we remain passionate about FTE’s role in accelerating industry progress and our approach and portfolio are truly unique. We are injecting fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and testing new tech and approaches, while driving collaboration in a way that no-one else is that is truly critical in our view to achieving industry transformation and progress. “FTE moves at pace with a constant drumbeat of community engagement. There is energy and passion and no bureaucracy!” – those words are from our good friends at International Airlines Group (IAG) and I couldn’t have put it better myself.
As our full schedule of activities shows, in 2025 we are offering more high-level content and gatherings than ever before. I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the exciting plans we are forging across the FTE portfolio.
FTE Communities: Only 1 week until first-of-its-kind ‘Live Days’ event hosted by Orlando International Airport including 1st meeting of FTE ACE Smart Ramp program members
This year is shaping up to be an incredible one for FTE, beginning next week (10-12 February) with the first FTE Communities Live Days event of the year, hosted by Orlando International Airport (MCO). The first-of-its-kind gathering will connect and inspire all of our FTE Communities – the Baggage Innovation Working Group (BIWG), Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub, and World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group – over the course of two days, with almost 200 members engaging in inspiration-filled sessions, collaborative discussions, valuable networking, and exclusive airport tours. Among the many highlights, Space Florida will deliver an inspirational opening keynote; high-level speakers from MCO, Spirit Airlines and more are confirmed; Oceaneering will host an open house tour of its pioneering autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics, and much more. Our Orlando event will also host the first in-person FTE Accelerating Collaboration & Engagement (ACE) platform meeting for members of the ground-breaking ‘Smart Ramp’ program – we were thrilled to announce last week that All Nippon Airways has joined International Airlines Group (IAG), Miami International Airport and Schiphol Group in this truly global initiative. We will be announcing our 5th member soon too.
View the full FTE Communities Live Days agenda >> Find out more about the FTE Accelerating Collaboration & Engagement (ACE) platform >>Exclusive activities for members of FTE’s innovation communities also include a second FTE Communities Live Day event in Madrid on 7 April, hosted by IAG and Iberia at their HQ, featuring insights from top IAG leaders and a behind-the-scenes tour of Iberia’s MRO centre at Madrid-Barajas Airport. Meanwhile, Schiphol will host an exclusive baggage tour for BIWG members ahead of the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing events in Dublin.
BA CEO to keynote at FTE World Innovation Summit, hosted by PIT, 13-15 May
I am thrilled to reveal that British Airways Chairman & CEO Sean Doyle will be our opening keynote speaker at the brand-new FTE World Innovation Summit, hosted by Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) on 13-15 May. FTE and PIT share an innovation mindset and this worldwide summit – building on the successful collaboration between FTE and PIT for the Aviation & Robotics Summit in 2023 and 2024 – will unite inventive minds to tackle aviation’s biggest challenges, exclusively explore PIT’s Terminal Modernization ahead of its opening later this year, and uncover the city’s vibrant tech and innovation landscape with a broader focus now on Advanced Technology, Energy & Sustainability & Future Airports. We will bring together over 400 air transport industry innovators for a three-day interdisciplinary series of conference sessions hosted at the world-famous Carnegie Mellon University, interactive workshops, innovation tours, and networking opportunities. To maximise the focus on collaborative innovation, tickets are free for airports and airlines (subject to approval).
Hear from Pittsburgh Airport CEO Christina Cassotis on why this event is a must-attend >> Register for the FTE World Innovation Summit >>IAG announced as Headline Partner for APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing, Dublin, 10-12 June
We also have exciting plans for the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing events, which return to Dublin on 10-12 June. Last week, we announced International Airlines Group (IAG) as our first Headline Partner, following a highly successful collaboration in 2024. Recognised by previous attendees for its “fantastic networking”, “great collaboration” and “laid-back atmosphere”, APEX FTE EMEA is a boutique event that is carefully crafted to create a high-quality, senior-level gathering in an intimate environment, fostering meaningful connections and one-to-one networking. Our 2025 theme of ‘Innovate to Elevate’ will challenge attendees to think beyond the status quo, focusing on harnessing creativity and innovation to take the air transport industry to new heights.
After taking our airline retailing content to the next level in 2023 and 2024, Eric Léopold, Founder & Managing Director, Threedot, returns as Content Director for APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing, bringing his unique perspective on the evolution of airline retailing and ensuring we deliver our best agenda, and attendance, yet.
At the epicentre of our Dublin show will be the region’s definitive innovation competition – the FTE EMEA Innovate Awards, with entries now open. Find out more and submit your entry here.
See the passenger experience of the future at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation”, Los Angeles, 9-11 September
The mantra for our live events is that these are the “CES of Aviation” shows, where you come to plan for the future and see many unveilings from our speakers, exhibitors and sponsors. This is especially true at our flagship FTE Global event. Returning to Los Angeles on 9-11 September, FTE Global will once again be co-located with APEX/IFSA Global EXPO. With a theme of ‘Collaborative Transformation’ it will be the biggest, most influential gathering of air transport executives in North America in 2025. FTE Global is renowned by previous attendees for the “wonderful networking opportunities” and as the place to find “technologies that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible”. This year, our brand-new “Passenger Experience of the Future Showcase” will be an unmissable feature of the exhibition, highlighting the tech innovations and solutions set to truly redefine the entire end-to-end traveller experience under one roof. Agenda development is also well underway for what promise to be our most inspiration-filled conferences yet.
Register for FTE Global >> View the FTE Global testimonials >>Changi Airport Group confirmed as a Headline Partner of APEX FTE Asia Expo, Singapore, 11-12 November
Our portfolio of live events in 2025 concludes once again with APEX FTE Asia Expo, taking place at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, on 11-12 November, with Changi Airport Group already confirmed to return as a Headline Partner. Previous attendees describe the show as the place to “really get a pulse on what everyone is doing across Asia-Pac – from airlines to airports to startups – in terms of innovation” and we are developing exciting plans across the conferences and expo. With a theme of ‘Accelerating Innovation’, Asia’s leading free-to-attend innovation and passenger experience event for the aviation industry will focus on innovation, technology, digital transformation, retail strategies, and commercial growth in the rapidly evolving APAC region. In the Expo Hall, the industry’s most forward-thinking product and service providers from Asia and beyond will showcase their latest solutions designed to elevate the performance of airlines, airports, and their partners. Additional highlights include access to the co-located Onboard Hospitality Forum Asia, a dedicated Startup Zone, and a vibrant social and networking agenda.
Register for APEX FTE Asia Expo >> View the APEX FTE Asia Expo testimonials >>In closing, everything we do here at FTE drives innovation and collaboration in a truly unique fashion. The speed at which technology is evolving is breath-taking and there is so much potential to leverage that, as our recent ‘Tech and CX Trends’ report illustrates. Whether you participate in our “CES of Aviation” events, join one of our working groups, or engage in our ACE initiatives, you will be part of a dynamic community accelerating meaningful industry change.
We look forward to collaborating with your organisation in 2025. Please do let me know if you would be interested to learn more regarding any of our plans.
All the best
Daniel Coleman
Founder & CEO
Future Travel Experience
daniel.coleman@futuretravelexperience.com
