The aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) continues to grow and 2013 showed a “remarkable” 12-percent increase in the number of visitors as a total of 8,906 attendees passed through the doors during the three-day event, (April 9-11) in Hamburg, Germany. More than 500 exhibitors representing 26 countries covered a record 193,750 sq ft in Hamburg's Messe Center exhibit halls, roughly 21,000 sq ft more than last year.

More encouraging for next year, said event director Katie Murphy of Reed Exhibitions, is the fact that by the time the 2013 show close, well over 80 percent of exhibit space set aside for the 2014 event had already been sold.

This year also marked the second year that the World Travel Catering and Onboard Service Exposition was held concurrently. More than 200 exhibitors crowded 5,800 sq ft in three halls, from Monty’s Bakehouse with hand-held, bake-in-a-box wraps to Chilean vintner Concha y Toro with wines selected specifically for the aircraft cabin environment.

In addition to cuisine suited to virtually every taste, participants showcased galley staples. Dutch supplier Sola Airline Cutlery showed off its latest designs and Intex of Zhejiang, China, was there with a line of high-end bedding products, from hot and cold towels to pillows, blankets and duvets.

Also presented in collaboration with AIX for the second year was the Passenger Exposition Conference, held the day before the doors of the interiors show opened. More than 300 visitors attended the day-long conference.

All these, along with the annual Aircraft International Exposition In the Americas, scheduled this year in Seattle in October, create a broad source of industry marketing intelligence that allows multiple resources to meet the needs of a wider number of exhibitors and visitors, explained Murphy.