A first look at airline lineup at World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo 2026

Passenger expectations of travel are higher than ever, with comfort, wellbeing and seamless experiences now seen as a standard. Onboard food and beverage are playing an increasingly[1] in shaping the passenger experience, with 57% of travellers rating in-flight offerings positively among leading airlines, highlighting its growing influencer on overall journey perception. As travellers become more perceptive, airline, rail and cruise operators must carefully consider how they meet rising expectations while maintaining operational efficiency and delivering a consistent, high-quality experience throughout the journey.

World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) will return to Hamburg from 14–16 April 2026, offering buyers and operators the opportunity to share ideas, discuss challenges and inspire one another on the next steps for the onboard hospitality industry. Here’s a look at what to expect at this year’s show, from new features on the exhibition floor to returning highlights not to miss.

A wide range of global carriers will attend WTCE this year, including British Airways, Air Canada, Delta, AirAsia, easyJet, American Airlines, Lufthansa and Qatar Airlines. More than 300 exhibitors will showcase their offerings across the three-day event, across returning show features and new dedicated zones. New additions for 2026 include the Drinks Zone and the Discover Zone. The First-Time Exhibitor Village will return, featuring 30 new exhibitors within the Village and contributing to a total of 90 new exhibitors to WTCE. It will provide a platform to showcase the latest developments and trends in onboard services and hospitality. Other returning features that remain popular with attendees include the Taste of Travel Theatre, the VIP Buyer Programme, Steps to Sustainability Trail, among others.

This year’s WTCE will once again bring together the innovators and global leaders shaping the future of onboard hospitality. Attendees will be able to discover the latest products and services shaping the future of onboard hospitality from leading brands.

Across the exhibition floor, visitors can expect to reconnect with major catering companies including dnata, SATS, gategroup and its family of brands, alongside LSG Sky Chefs – Americas and Flying Food Group, strengthening the show’s global catering representation.

The show will also spotlight premium food companies such as Delice de France and Around Noon, showcasing high-quality bakery, fresh and food-to-go solutions tailored specifically for airline operators.

Beyond catering, leading onboard retail and amenity innovators will demonstrate how the passenger experience continues to evolve. Visitors can discover the latest concepts from Tourvest Retail, while companies including Kaelis and Linstol will be bringing new collections and sustainability-led developments designed for modern cabins.

With additional exhibitors such as Devion, specialists in intelligent automation for the onboard catering industry, set to unveil their latest offerings, alongside anticipated product launches across the show floor, WTCE 2026 promises a comprehensive showcase of next-generation catering, retail and passenger comfort solutions.

This year WTCE will welcome 90+ first-time exhibitors, 30 of which are located in the New Exhibitor Village, designed to showcase the latest products and innovative concepts. The space will make it easier for visitors to navigate the show floor, bringing fresh thinking, unique flavours and new product developments into one focused location.

Visitors can expect brands that combine quality, practicality and standout flavour, all with the shared goal of shaping the future of onboard hospitality. Exhibitors include Banana Cph A/S, which reduces food waste by transforming overripe bananas into innovative plant-based products; NomadNibbles, showcasing premium “grab & go” snack boxes tailored for travellers; Champagne Lombard, bringing terroir-driven Champagnes as authentic and premium options for onboard service; K.R.S Spicy Food under the J-Lek brand, presenting traditional Thai sauces and condiments crafted from authentic recipes; andHard Rock Cocktails, translating iconic bar flavours into convenient ready-to-drink cocktail cans.

Together, the New Exhibitor Village will spotlight emerging brands set to influence the next generation of onboard catering and hospitality.

Sponsored by En Route International, a global specialist in passenger and airline catering solutions, the Taste of Travel Theatre will deliver three days of insight-led sessions at WTCE exploring the future of onboard hospitality. Across Elevated Passenger Experience, Intelligent Cabin and Business of Onboard sessions, industry leaders will share practical strategies, emerging trends and real-world developments shaping the next generation of airline service.

The Elevated Passenger Experience themed sessions will explore how airlines and suppliers are redefining onboard service to meet rising passenger expectations. Highlights include ‘A Focus on Asia’ (13:00–13:45, Tuesday 14 April), moderated by Jeremy Clark of JCConsulting, with Jon Harwood of dnata, David Helm of En Route International, Puneet Arora from SATS and Mirko Brenzinger, Entrepreneur & Independent Aviation Business Consultant, discussing Asia’s rapid aviation growth and its influence on global service standards. Day Two will feature a discussion on evolving passenger expectations led by Anne De Hauw of IN Air Travel Experience, followed by ‘Health, Wellness and Nutrition on Board’, moderated by April Waterstone of Onboard Hospitality, with speakers from en-route International and SAS Scandinavian Airlines. The programme will finish with an international beverage trolley showcase hosted by WTCE Beverages Ambassador, Kelly Stevenson of JetVine, celebrating innovation and storytelling in onboard drinks service.

The Intelligent Cabin sessions at the Taste of Travel Theatre will focus on how AI, automation and smart design are reshaping onboard operations and passenger satisfaction. ‘How AI Can Help Us to Understand What Passengers Want’ (11:15–12:00), moderated by Vimal Kumar Rai, will feature speakers including Laura Gambell of Omnevo, Sarah Rogers and Mike Pooley from Oxford Brookes University; and Consultant for the Hayward Partnership Kai Kosicki, exploring how data-driven insights can optimise menus, reduce waste and enhance the passenger experience. Later in the day, ‘Sustainability as an Operating Requirement – Rethinking International Catering Waste’ (11:45–12:45) will bring together experts Maria Brewstovansky from IFSA Government Affairs Manager, Diana Cawley of Aviation Sustainability Forum and Olivia Stoll from Flying Food Group to discuss sustainable cabin design. In the afternoon, ‘Smart Catering’ (14:15–15:00) moderated by Vimal Kumar Rai of Commercial Excellence Partners, will highlight automation and AI-powered solutions from innovators including Paul Bilham of Immfly, Manuel Hubschmann of Viktio, Alexandre Sudron of Transavia France and David Hailey of Countifi, to drive efficiency and sustainability.

The Business of Onboard sessions at the Taste of Travel Theatre will bring together airline leaders and retail specialists to explore revenue growth, collaboration and the true cost of delivering standout passenger experiences. Day One’s ‘Onboard Retail Laid Bare’ (14:00–15:00), moderated by Lance Hayward of The Hayward Partnership, will feature founders of INK, The Inflight Network of Knowledge, alongside Laura Heijmann of Transavia, Michelle Philpot of easyJet, Duncan de Boer of Foodcase International BV and Ilze Silina of Norwegian, to discuss collaboration and development in low-cost inflight retail. On Day Two, ‘The Cost of Good Customer Service’ (10:45–11:30), moderated by Fernanda Veiga of Kaelis Group, will bring together senior leaders Melanie Berry of Vueling and Beatriz Guillén from Iberia Airlines to examine the operational and cultural investment behind exceptional service. Day Three will conclude with ‘How to Get Your Product Onboard – An Interactive Workshop’ (11:00–13:00), where industry experts Brett Hooyerink from Marfo, Nicky Slater at ITW, Joe Harvey from DELI LITES and WTCE Special Diets Ambassador, Julianne Ponan MBE of Creative Nature share practical advice on successfully launching products into the airline market.

This year’s show will bring a new space, the Discover Zone, giving visitors a dedicated space to discover the latest onboard products and a curated selection of 20+ exhibitors including Farmley, Banhoek Chilli Oil, Hello Straw B.V and Neuhaus NV. Located in Hall A4, the area will showcase new trends and developments across key onboard categories including snacks, confectionery, beverages and amenities, helping airline teams and onboard service professionals easily identify new suppliers and products.

Attendees will be able to explore and scan products from a range of exhibitors across the show floor using Colleqt technology. Designed to help attendees easily discover new brands and products, the zone allows visitors to browse the products and learn more about their offerings by digitally scanning the product display.

For VIP Buyers, the experience goes one step further. After scanning products within the Discover Zone, VIP attendees will be able to collect a personalised sample bag from the VIP Collection Point within the area, containing a curated selection of the products they scanned.

VIP attendees can create a personalised VIP bag to include a curated selection of products and samples from 20 participating exhibitors from the Discover Zone, including Gut Springenheide GmbH, Wonderful Brands, Farmley, Kiboni GmbH, Hand Off Wines, APAC, Neuhaus, Kimrica Hunter international and Roncadin SPA SB among others. Additionally, VIP attendees will receive access to the Digital Gift Bag, which includes free samples and exclusive offers from more than 50+ companies such as Champagne de Lombard, Pots & Co Ltd, Vita Coco, Bon Café, Caviar de Beluga Ltdand Pattiseries Fabie.

The VIP Buyer Programme is returning, offering onboard buyers and airline teams additional benefits throughout the event. Available exclusively to VIP badge holders at WTCE and Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), the VIP Lounge in Hall A4 will provide light morning refreshments, lunch and drinks in a relaxed setting designed for informal meetings and downtime. The lounge is sponsored by exhibitor PAXIA, whose platform enables airlines and caterers to generate and manage meal orders for operating flights.

The VIP Buyer Programme also offers a discounted rate for The Passenger Experience Conference on Monday 13th April, including access to the evening Welcome Party.

The Journey Circle is a brand-new advisory network of senior airline and hospitality professionals, allowing visitors to learn more about what will shape the future of inflight catering and passenger experience. The founding members include Simone Walli, Catering Manager at Austrian Airlines, Samson Arega, Group Vice President at Ethiopian Airlines, Tobias Ögren, Head of Inflight Product and catering at Sunclass Airlines and Louise Leaupepe, Inflight Experience Senior Manager at Riyadh Air, alongside Hari Ghotra, Senior Manager of Global Inflight Food & Beverage Development and Shiada Drysdale, Manager of Inflight Services Food & Beverage, both from Virgin Atlantic – and each will help shape key areas of the expo. Simone Walli and Tobias Ögren will help steer the Discover Zone, an interactive product discovery space that will showcase the latest onboard-ready products designed to improve visitor experience and operational efficiency.

Samson Arega will join industry leaders as a panellist at the Passenger Experience Conference, taking place on Monday 13th April at Hamburg Messe ahead of WTCE. The conference programme will address critical operational and strategic questions across three themes: Digital First – Personal, Intelligent & Intuitive; Sustainability & The Eco-Conscious Traveller; and Wellness, Comfort & Human-Centric Design. Experts from a record number of airlines including Lufthansa Group and Saudi Arabian Airlines will provide practical guidance for customer experience.

Passenger wellbeing is increasingly important and a central focus in discussions about the future of onboard hospitality. The Wellbeing Walkthrough returns to showcase a curated range of products and services across health, nutrition, comfort, and wellbeing. The trail has been curated by WTCE’s Ambassadors, Dr Melissa Adamski, WTCE Travel Nutrition Ambassador and Director of Nutted Out Nutrition; Julianne Ponan MBE, WTCE Special Diets Ambassador and Founder of Creative Nature; and Kelly Stevenson, WTCE Beverages Ambassador and Founder of JetVine, highlighting solutions that help passengers avoid the side effects of long-haul travel while promoting long-term health and wellbeing. For 2026, the trail will feature 13 selected companies including Wabba, Foodcase International, Milk Ltd, and The Coconut Collab, among others.

The onboard hospitality industry is increasingly looking for ways to improve its environmental footprints across all elements of the passenger experience. The Steps to Sustainability Trail is an interactive visit experience, showcasing developments across the supply chain that support environmentally conscious production and operations. The trail takes the form of a walking route around the halls with companies highlighting sustainable solutions for onboard services. Visitors can expect to see

Created by WTCE Sustainability Ambassador, Matt Crane, Founder of the ASF, the trail will highlight the newest trends and accomplishments that are shaping the future of the industry. A total of 20 carefully selected companies including Linstol, RMT Global Partners, The Barista Cup, Castello Monte Vibiano and Global Inflight Products will be part of the zone for 2026.

The Tech Trail will return, connecting buyers with suppliers transforming inflight retail and catering through data, digital and automation. The immersive walk-through will showcase technologies that will drive passenger experience and improve operational efficiency. 10 exhibitors will feature, including C8Rtech – Airline Catering Technology, redefining airline catering using cloud-based technology; Devion, developing solutions to reduce time-consuming catering processes; Immfly, providing onboard digital solutions to help airlines increase revenue and enhance passenger experience; and Foodcase International BV, offering end-to-end supply chain solutions from concept to distribution.

WTCE’s Retail Technology Ambassador and Consultant at the Hayward Partnership, Kai Kosicki, will provide insights into the latest industry and trends and digital innovations, giving attendees a preview of the technologies and solutions shaping the future of inflight retail and catering.

This year’s WTCE will feature a new dedicated area bringing together beverage brands tailored for onboard catering and hospitality professionals. Visitors can explore a wide range of beverages from leading brands, showcasing new serves across functional drinks, low-alcohol alternatives and sustainability-led beverages. Kelly Stevenson, WTCE’s Beverages Ambassadors and Founder of JetVine, is supporting the exhibitor lineup, ensuring the zone highlights exciting new flavours and formats designed specifically for onboard hospitality.

Designed to help onboard buyers stay ahead of 2026 trends, the space will also provide fresh ideas and inspiration for evolving beverage programmes. Highlights include twice-daily Happy Hours from 12:00–1:00pm and 4:00–5:00pm, plus signature serves and speciality drinks showcasing the flavours and formats shaping the future of onboard beverages.

Visitors can expect to see exhibitors including Defiant Ones UK Limited, supplying a broad portfolio of alcoholic beverages; GEMELLii Drinks GmbH, offering Italian-crafted ready-to-drink low-alcohol mocktails and mixers; Pentrade FMCG Distribution, providing single-point-of-contact solutions for onboard hospitality operators; Amrut Distilleries P Ltd and Piccadily Distillery, showcasing India’s leading malt whiskies ad premium spirits; and Picoso Limited, bringing premium spicy sodas inspired by Mexico.

Exhibitors and visitors can create their accounts for WTCE Connect ahead of the show, allowing them to search for all relevant companies and products at WTCE 2026. WTCE Connect is a meeting platform where attendees can plan their activities during the show in April and sign up to any sessions and events happening such as any of the Taste of Travel sessions taking place during the week.

Colleqt QR Codes will be featured on all exhibitor booths within the Discover Zone and Taste of Travel Theatre, that highlight all available features when scanned with a smartphone. At the end of each day and of the week, visitors will receive a Daily Digest of companies they have scanned. Collect QR is an invaluable tool for visitors to collect information from the companies they’re interested in without needing to carry around heavy brochures.

WTCE’s Event Manager, Shona Thomson, said: “WTCE 2026 is bringing a strong programme and we’re proud to welcome the industry once again in April. With a mix of returning favourites and new exhibitors, the event offers visitors the chance to discover the latest innovations, connect with industry peers and see where onboard hospitality is heading.

“We’re particularly looking forward to the new Discover and Drinks Zones, which give attendees immersive ways to explore products and engage with brands. As the sector continues to evolve, we want to make sure that the show evolves with it. These new features reflect our ongoing commitment to creating a dynamic and inspiring experience for everyone attending. We can’t wait to welcome everyone for a truly standout line-up celebrating the very best in onboard hospitality and experience”

WTCE is co-located with industry-renowned Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX). With the crossover of the two shows, both offer the perfect setting for collaboration networking. Ahead of the exhibition opening, a Welcome Party will bring attendees together to connect and catch up from 6:00–9:30pm. The event is open to VIP badge holders and Welcome Party badge holders, as well as PEC delegates with upgraded access. Throughout the show, daily happy hours will take place in the new Drinks Zone from 12–1pm and 4–5pm, providing relaxed moments to catch up between meetings. On Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th April, evening hospitality hours (5–7pm) in the exhibition halls will see exhibitors hosting informal drinks and networking sessions. Registering for either WTCE or AIX grants visitors access to both exhibitions with one badge.

For more information or to register for World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, visit https://www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com/en-gb/tickets.html