The APEX CEO Lifetime Achievement Award honors airline leaders whose careers have advanced the passenger experience through long-term vision, dedication, and measurable impact, while creating a positive influence that extends beyond their own airline to strengthen the broader industry. In 2026, that recognition will be presented to Aeromexico CEO Dr. Andrés Conesa during APEX FTE EXPO Asia in Singapore, where he will become the first Latin American airline CEO to receive the honor in APEX’s five-decade history.

Air New Zealand has announced celebrated New Zealand chef Josh Emett, one of the country’s most recognised chefs and restaurateurs, as its new Culinary Ambassador. Emett is the only New Zealand chef to have collected Michelin stars across three different restaurants in London, New York, and Los Angeles in his time with Gordon Ramsay. In this role, he will focus on showcasing New Zealand produce, hospitality and elevated cuisine across the Air New Zealand premium dining experience.

Emirates has reached a defining milestone in its ambitious multi-billion dollar retrofit programme with the successful reconfiguration of its first two-class A380 aircraft. The newly refurbished aircraft features new interiors with Emirates’ latest products in three cabin classes: 76 Business Class seats, 56 Premium Economy Seats, and 437 Economy Class seats. This is the first of 15 two-class A380 aircraft in its fleet that Emirates will renovate as part of its commitment to offer customers a consistently superior experience in the sky.

DIRECTV IN FLIGHT is bringing a renewed focus to its bundle of U.S.-based live TV channels which can be aired on flights departing from the United States to international destinations, as well as on return flights to the United States. Kimberly Twiggs, Vice President, DIRECTV IN FLIGHT, tells PAX Tech, that the company is focused on providing the best inflight entertainment experience for passengers. “Recent research shows 80 percent of travelers say it is important airlines offer inflight entertainment,” she says. “Inflight entertainment is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ differentiator. It has quietly become core to the passenger experience.”

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, airlines around the world have taken again to what appears to be a long-running tradition: adorning their aircraft with special liveries in support of their home countries’ teams, or simply to celebrate the world’s most popular football tournament. At AeroTime, we have put together this World Cup livery gallery to showcase the creativity that goes into marrying the world of aeronautics to the beautiful game.

Delta has announced it is launching new Delta One amenity kits in time for the spring and summer season that are designed to transform in‑flight care into a moment of restoration. The Missoni-designed bags’ contents include curated skincare by Grown Alchemist with a focus on hydration. The kits include a restorative hand cream in vanilla and orange peel, new Hydra‑Restore Eye Patches and a new spearmint lip balm which has been ranked a must‑have by 55 per cent of Delta One customers.

Etihad Airways is preparing for a busy Eid al-Adha and summer travel season, with strong demand expected across its expanding global network.To help guests travel more easily during the peak holiday period, the airline is encouraging travellers to plan ahead and make use of its expanded check-in options, digital services, and seasonal travel benefits. With destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia and North America, guests flying to or transiting through Abu Dhabi can benefit from a range of benefits designed to make travel more convenient during the busy holiday season.

RAVE Aerospace and Safran Seats have unveiled a joint concept that reimagines the future of premium air travel, combining advanced seating technology with immersive IFE to create a highly personalized passenger experience. The “Origin” concept introduced at AIX 2026, features two complementary demonstrators focused on seating and digital interaction. At the center of the concept is an Immersive Display, a U-shaped micro-LED screen integrated into the suite. The system allows passengers to control their visual surroundings, shifting between different moods and environments to enhance relaxation or entertainment during flight.

STARLUX Airlines is bringing back its Snoopy-themed flights for a third consecutive year, with the new collaboration set to roll out across most of the carrier’s routes from July 1 through December 31, 2026. The Taiwanese carrier announced the latest edition of its partnership with Peanuts on May 25, 2026, unveiling a new lineup of themed onboard amenities ahead of the launch. This year’s theme, “Across Seasons, Across the World,” draws inspiration from the changing seasons. 

The Airbus A321XLR is redefining long-haul travel by proving that single-aisle aircraft can successfully operate routes once dominated by widebody jets. With its extended range and improved fuel efficiency, the aircraft allows airlines to connect smaller international markets with direct nonstop service while reducing operating costs. By 2026, the A321XLR has become one of the aviation industry’s most closely watched aircraft as carriers expand its role across transatlantic, transcontinental, and medium-haul international networks.

Astronics Corporation (Astronics) has announced the launch of the EmPower® 1327-27 Dual USB-Type-C In-Seat Power Outlet to meet the growing demands of modern travelers. Engineered to support the latest portable electronic devices (PEDs), the 1327-27 provides up to 60 watts of combined power across two USB-Type-C ports. Passengers can now simultaneously and efficiently charge their high-power devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and other PEDs during flight.

Geven is reinforcing its partnership with flyadeal through the introduction of its Comoda AQ seat for the airline’s first-ever Premium Economy cabin, set to debut on its fleet of A330-900neo aircraft. The agreement marks a milestone for flyadeal as it prepares to expand into long-haul operations, introducing a two-class configuration that includes Premium Economy for the first time. The A330 aircraft are scheduled to enter service from mid-2027, supporting routes between Saudi Arabia, Asia and Europe, as well as high-demand regional and pilgrimage services.