AIX 2025: Where the future of flight is no longer just about the sky

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AIX has always been a window into what’s next for aviation, but this year, the shift was more than technical, it was philosophical. From how materials are conceived to what passengers feel, the industry is moving from optimization to expression, from compliance to experience.

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At Mormedi, we don’t just look at trends, we read the signals beneath them. Here are the ones that stood out the most.

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Sustainability grows up

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For decades, sustainability in aviation has mostly meant weight reduction. This year, something shifted. Materials weren’t just eco-friendly, they had a presence. We’re seeing 50% and 100% recycled materials that no longer try to mimic the old standards (leather, laminates, woodgrain). Instead, they own their uniqueness, with textures and finishes that tell a story. Tactility and identity are as important as performance.

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Suppliers like Tapis, Rohe, Kydex, and Boltaron are at the forefront, offering materials that feel designed rather than merely engineered. It’s a sign of maturity: sustainability not as compromise, but as character.

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Design for every body and mind

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Inclusive design is evolving too, not just as a set of accessibility features, but as a new baseline for experience. Last year’s physical accessibility innovations were still visible, but this time the conversation went deeper, into neurodiversity.

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Muirhead, the leather supplier, introduced materials developed specifically to reduce anxiety, using sound-dampening and soft tactile properties. This isn’t a niche innovation. It’s universal design thinking acknowledging that what calms or reassures one passenger often improves the experience for everyone.

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eVTOL: Lightness as strategy

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Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft (eVTOL) were a hot topic, and understandably so. Lighter, quieter, more flexible than traditional planes, eVTOL represents a leap, but also a challenge. Certification pathways are looser. Brand loyalty doesn’t yet exist. Which means design will play an outsized role in shaping the market.

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Isovolta’s new materials, 50% lighter than standard composites, drew serious attention. But the bigger question is: what kind of experience do we want this new category to deliver? And how can we use design to differentiate, before regulation catches up?

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Data is here. What we do with it still isn’t.

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There’s no shortage of screens in today’s cabin concepts. What’s emerging now is the next layer: data-driven IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) systems that mirror the fluidity of Apple CarPlay, combined with high-speed connectivity and onboard analytics.

But the real shift is backstage. A few tech suppliers are beginning to talk about how aggregated passenger data, done ethically, can drive operational efficiencies, inform predictive maintenance, and even empower crew decision-making. It’s early, but it’s coming.

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A touch of the eclectic

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Uniformity is out. Texture is in. Across the expo, we saw a clear move away from the “premium beige” of corporate aviation. In its place: randomized fabrics, unexpected colorways, and pattern-rich solid surfaces that break the monotony without overwhelming the senses.

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It’s a subtle form of rebellion, a return to personality in spaces that have long prioritized neutrality. And it reflects what’s happening across other industries too: a desire for interiors that feel less generic, more human.

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The return of maximalism, quietly

At the other end of the scale, Airbus premiered its First Class Master Suite for the A350-1000. Calling it a suite is an understatement, it’s more apartment than seat. What’s most compelling isn’t the luxury or the tech, but the restraint. The concept is analogue-first, giving space to physical experience and light, while using wraparound digital displays to shape ambient moods, rather than dominate the cabin.

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It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always need to shout. Sometimes it can simply create space for presence.

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What we take away

Aviation has always been driven by performance. But now, performance is being redefined, not just in terms of weight, speed, or cost, but in the ability to evoke emotion, inclusivity, and identity. From sustainable surfaces to data platforms, from eVTOL challenges to first-class ambition, AIX 2025 showed a sector that’s beginning to ask better questions.

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And at Mormedi, we believe that’s the most exciting kind of progress.

Not just new materials.
Not just new cabins.
But new mindsets.

Ones that see design not as a final layer, but as the connective tissue between vision, execution, and experience.

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