The Airline Passenger Experience Association has pushed back its annual APEX/IFSA Exhibition to 30 November, in light of the Biden Administration’s plan to lift travel restrictions to the United States from Europe, India, China, and Brazil in early November.
APEX/IFSA CEO Joe Leader, who lobbied hard for the administration to lift the USA’s travel ban, tells Runway Girl Network that he believes “the human arguments finally broke through and allowed for this next stage.”
In a survey of airlines and suppliers already committed to attend the APEX/IFSA EXPO in Long Beach, California, an overwhelming majority supported rescheduling the event, which was originally slated to begin on 19 October. Indeed, the trade association says that no fewer than 91% of respondents agreed to change the start date to 30 November.
“The new EXPO dates, 30 November-2 December, create a unique and timely opportunity that will significantly bolster airline and supplier participation in EXPO. Members previously unable to attend already are saying they are now planning to attend EXPO,” says the association.
The EXPO is an industry marketplace where airline CEOs, executives and decision makers meet with hundreds of exhibitors demonstrating the latest innovations shaping the passenger experience.
Notably, all attendees, staff, and vendors must be fully vaccinated to attend all aspects of the APEX/IFSA EXPO.
“Attendees must have received their final dose by 16 November 2021 to be considered fully vaccinated. Masks will also be required,” explains the association in an online statement.
In pushing back the dates of the event, prospective attendees will also have more time to get vaccinated. This could prove especially important to individuals from countries whose vaccine rollouts are perhaps less robust than in the United States. It is hoped that the Biden Administration will soon provide clarity on just who will qualify as being considered “fully vaccinated” when travel restrictions lift in early November.
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