The Upgrade: open access passenger experience podcasts

The Up Front

This podcast feed includes all our open-access episodes, bringing you industry insights into the passenger experience and the airline industry. All episodes in this feed are free to listen, thanks to our sponsors and industry partners. For more, including our critical industry intelligence for passenger experience professionals, subscribe to our Premium or Business tiers — theupfront.media/subscribe — and check out our full podcast feed, “40,000 Feet”.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    Accessibility with Mary Doyle, plus the RedCabin summit

    With cabin accessibility improvements such a focus at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo, we sit down with accessible aviation and inclusion consultant Mary Doyle in advance of this summer’s Aircraft Cabin Innovation Summit

    41 min

  2. May 20

    The Chain, episode 8, live from AIX: ACS UK and Boltaron discuss customisation and certification within the cabin

    Elizabeth Payne from ACS UK and Michael Robinette from Boltaron sit down live with us at the Aircraft Interiors Expo for a wide-ranging talk, covering everything from design to materials science… and how to improve ITCMs

    28 min

  3. Apr 16

    AIX26: Wrapping up AIX 2026: an extra-length strategic overview

    John Walton and Gareth Edwards analyse the biggest splashes of the show, key industry discussions and trends, as well as picking their top seats, cabins, demonstrators, concepts and more as the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026 finishes its final day.

    59 min

  4. Apr 12

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 7: Diehl Aviation’s CEO talks standardisation and customisation within the supply chain

    Tier 1 supplier and integrator Diehl works across many parts of the aircraft interiors supply chain, and its chief exec Jörg Schuler sits down to talk about standardisation, coordination — and the risks of letting the urgent overwhelm the important.

    23 min

  5. Apr 11

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 6: scaling up the seat supply chain and facing another industry crisis, with Mirus Aircraft Seating

    Fresh off a win for 230 shipsets of its Kestrel ultra-lightweight slimline seat for easyJet, Ben McGuire, Marcus Williams and Adam Challenor join us on The Chain for a very up front discussion of the supply chain from the seatmaker perspective.

    26 min

  6. Apr 10

    #AIX26: Preview special

    Where the industry stands going into the Aircraft Interiors Expo, including the spread of "basic business class", plus tips for first-time attendees — and our exclusive preview of urgent tactical questions and important strategic issues to think about at the show

    50 min

  7. Apr 7

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 5: the warp and weft of the airline textiles supply chain, with Botany Weaving’s David Lawson

    One of the most customisable and highly design-focussed aspects of seats and cabins, textiles work differently from much of the interiors supply chain. David Lawson from Botany Weaving joins us on our limited-run podcast series, The Chain.

    30 min

  8. Apr 3

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 4: the thermoplastics supply chain fundamentals with SIMONA Boltaron's Chris Corona

    Ahead of the 2026 Aircraft Interiors Expo, we return to our limited-run podcast series, The Chain, to talk about one of the essential elements of any airline seat: thermoplastics. Joining us this week: Chris Corona, Boltaron's vice president of aerospace strategy.

    26 min

  9. Mar 26

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 3: how the aircraft interiors supply chain can work better, with tangerine's Weiwei He

    Translating new seats and cabins from designer concept to production and certification reality — the latest of our special limited-run podcast series, The Chain, ahead of the 2026 Aircraft Interiors Expo. Our guest is tangerine director Weiwei He.

    22 min

  10. Mar 20

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 2: surfaces and materials in the interiors supply chain, with Insperial’s Alexis Gabillon

    We explore the complexities of the supply chain for seats, cabins, and interiors in the latest episode of our special limited podcast series, ahead of the Aircraft Interiors Expo. Our guest this time: Alexis Gabillon, CEO of Insperial Group.

    21 min

  11. Mar 13

    AIX26: The Chain, episode 1: airline perspectives on the interiors supply chain, with David Kondo

    The first episode on our special limited series, The Chain, delving deep into the often-creaking supply chain for seats, cabins, and interiors, in the run-up to the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026. We sit down with David Kondo to discuss the challenges — and prospective solutions — from the point of view of airline customers.

    26 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

This podcast feed includes all our open-access episodes, bringing you industry insights into the passenger experience and the airline industry. All episodes in this feed are free to listen, thanks to our sponsors and industry partners. For more, including our critical industry intelligence for passenger experience professionals, subscribe to our Premium or Business tiers — theupfront.media/subscribe — and check out our full podcast feed, “40,000 Feet”.

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