Aircraft Interiors Expo 2027 runs 6–8 April at Hamburg Messe. Dates, badge prices, VIP buyer rules, PEC, WTCE, the Crystal Cabin Award and how to get there.
Cover image: Aircraft seats on an exhibitor stand at Passenger Experience Week in Hamburg, home of Aircraft Interiors Expo, in 2018 — photo by Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2027 runs from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 April 2027 at Hamburg Messe, and as of 1 November 2026 registration had not opened: the organiser's ticket link leads to a register-interest form. AIX is RX's three-day trade show where airlines, lessors and business-jet operators meet the suppliers of the aircraft cabin, from seats and galleys to inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC).
There are no public days. One badge also covers the co-located World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE), and the week opens on Monday 5 April with the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC). RX's website also lists the 2028 show dates, 4 to 6 April 2028, without naming a venue.
Who exhibits and who attends AIX?
The 25th edition, held from 14 to 16 April 2026, drew 12,286 attendees from 98 countries, with 478 exhibiting companies, 93 of them first-time exhibitors, and more than 185 airlines, according to the organiser's post-show report. It counted at least 1,136 VIPs, the organiser's term for qualifying airline, lessor and business-jet staff. The audience leans European: Germany accounted for 53.6% of visitors, followed by the United States (8.9%), the United Kingdom (7.9%) and France (7.3%).
Exhibitors cover seating, galley equipment, lighting, materials, cabin systems and services, with a dedicated IFEC Zone and the BizJet & VVIP Interiors Zone, new in 2026. Announcements at the 2026 show included easyJet selecting Mirus Aircraft Seating's Kestrel seat for 237 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, and ZIPAIR revealing a fleetwide inflight server platform built on MacBook Pro and integrated with Starlink connectivity.
WTCE, in the same venue that week, covers inflight catering, onboard retail and passenger comfort; RX calls it the main marketplace for airline and rail buyers of those products.
How to attend AIX: badges, VIP status and prices
As of 1 November 2026 RX had not published 2027 badge prices; its venue page says registration opens in November. The 2026 prices, excluding tax, show how the badges work:
| Badge (2026) | Visitor | VIP |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibition (AIX and WTCE) | €50 early bird to 31 March, then €100 | Free |
| Exhibition + Welcome Party | €149 early bird, then €199 | €99 |
| Exhibition + PEC (with Welcome Party) | €765 early bird, then €840 | €540 |
The exhibition badge covered AIX, WTCE, the CabinSpace Live theatre and the AIX Connect meeting platform. Groups of three or more PEC delegates could save up to €125 per ticket. The admissions policy allows a supplementary €50 fee plus VAT for anyone who registers on site, so register before you travel, and print your PDF badge at home.
VIP buyer badges go to people who work for an airline, leasing company or business-jet operator and who direct or influence purchases. In 2026 they were limited to aircraft sales and leasing, commercial airlines (full-service, low-cost, regional and charter) and business-jet and VVIP owners, charter firms and operators. Upgrades were vetted, with status confirmed within 48 hours of registering with a business email. VIPs get a dedicated entrance, lounge access and a digital bag of exhibitor offers. The visitor pages describe no travel or hotel package, so this is not a hosted-buyer programme.
Is it open to the public? No. Admission is open to professional and business visitors and exhibitors involved in, or with a direct connection to, the industry. No one under 18 is admitted without the organiser's prior written approval, badges are non-transferable, and attendees should carry photo ID. Press badges are restricted to journalists and other media working in the industry, and the 2026 ticket page listed no student badge.
Networking at AIX: AIX Connect, PEC, CabinSpace Live and the Crystal Cabin Award
Pre-arranged meetings run through AIX Connect, which lets registered attendees search exhibitors and products and book meetings before the show. The organiser's planning checklist lists AIX Connect access six weeks before the show and the official AIX and WTCE app, with the floorplan and exhibitor lists, one week before. Stands carry Colleqt QR codes for collecting exhibitor details by phone.
PEC, on Monday 5 April 2027, is the separately ticketed conference that opens the week. The 2026 edition brought together more than 20 airlines and more than 65 speakers across Digital First, Wellness and Sustainability streams, according to the post-show report, and its delegate ticket included the evening Welcome Party, lunch and coffee breaks. On the show floor, the CabinSpace Live theatre is open to badge holders; its 2026 sessions covered satellite connectivity, personalisation, cabin comfort, inclusivity and the cabin of 2030. As of 1 November 2026 the visitor guide lists hospitality evenings, 17:00 to 19:00, in the B halls on all three show days.
The Crystal Cabin Award, run by the Crystal Cabin Award Association in Hamburg, announces its winners during AIX; in 2026 they were revealed on the evening of 14 April. The association says that since its inception in 2007 the award has recognised products, technologies and concepts that challenge established thinking about aircraft interiors. In its 20th-anniversary year it is, as of 1 November 2026, taking 2027 entries from companies, designers, researchers and students until 21 November 2026, in eight categories. A shortlist is due in mid-December and finalists in February; finalists present to the 27-member international jury on 5 April 2027, and the winners are announced in Hamburg the following evening.
Getting to Hamburg Messe and where to stay
Hamburg Messe is at Messeplatz 1, 20357 Hamburg, and AIX fills its B halls. Hamburg Airport is about 10 km from the exhibition grounds, according to the venue. From the airport, take S-Bahn line S1 to Jungfernstieg and change to U-Bahn line U2 for Messehallen, which serves the Central and South entrances. For the East Entrance, take the S1 to Hauptbahnhof and change to the S2 or S5 for Dammtor (Messe/CCH). Hamburg Messe puts a taxi from the airport at about 20 minutes and €30 to €35, and a single public transport ticket at about €4.
For hotels, the organiser's booking partner is HotelMap.
How AIX fits the aviation and travel calendar
AIX serves the cabin supply chain, not tour operators or travel agents. For the travel trade, ITB Berlin runs from 16 to 18 March 2027, about three weeks before AIX. RX also organises WTM London, the travel trade show at Excel London from 3 to 5 November 2026. For aircraft orders and flying displays, see our Farnborough Airshow 2026 preview. All are listed in our travel trade show calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Aircraft Interiors Expo 2027?
Aircraft Interiors Expo 2027 runs from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 April 2027 at Hamburg Messe, Messeplatz 1, 20357 Hamburg, Germany, from 09:00 to 17:00 each day. The Passenger Experience Conference and Welcome Party are on Monday 5 April. The organiser has also published the 2028 dates: 4 to 6 April 2028.
Is Aircraft Interiors Expo open to the public?
No. AIX is a trade show. Admission is open to professional and business visitors and exhibitors who are involved in, or have a direct connection to, the industry, and only pre-registered badge holders may enter. No one under 18 is admitted without the organiser's prior written approval, and attendees should carry photo ID that matches their badge.
How much does it cost to attend Aircraft Interiors Expo?
As of 1 November 2026, RX had not published 2027 prices. In 2026 a visitor badge cost €50 until 31 March and €100 afterwards, excluding tax, and covered both AIX and WTCE. Qualifying airline, lessor and business-jet staff received a free VIP badge. A badge that included the Passenger Experience Conference cost €765 early bird or €840.
Who qualifies for an AIX VIP badge?
VIP badges are for people who work for an airline, aircraft leasing company or business-jet operator and who direct or influence purchases. In 2026 they were limited to aircraft sales and leasing, commercial airlines (full-service, low-cost, regional and charter) and business-jet or VVIP owners, charter firms and operators, and upgrades were vetted.
When are the Crystal Cabin Award 2027 winners announced?
The Crystal Cabin Award Association will announce its eight 2027 category winners in Hamburg on the evening of Tuesday 6 April 2027, the opening day of AIX. Entries close on 21 November 2026, a shortlist follows in mid-December and the finalists are named in February. Finalists present their entries to the 27-member jury on 5 April.
Sources
- RX, Aircraft Interiors Expo homepage
- RX, Visit AIX
- RX, AIX Prepare to visit
- RX, AIX, WTCE and PEC admissions policy
- RX, AIX 2026 tickets page (archived 6 March 2026)
- RX, AIX 2026 tickets page (archived 13 April 2026)
- RX, AIX 2026 post-show report (PDF)
- Crystal Cabin Award Association, The Crystal Cabin Award turns 20 (10 September 2026)
- Hamburg Messe, Air travel
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