Richard Gaona is one of the key players in the global executive aviation industry.The once president of Airbus’ Executive Aircraft division is currently leading one of the most unique operators in the highly sophisticated world of private aviation.Richard is the President and CEO of Comlux, a company like no other. The uniqueness of Comlux is not due to the fact that it operates at the highest end of a market. No, even if its fleet includes some of the world’s largest and most luxurious private jets and its customer list, some of the world’s most successful businessmen, artists, sportsmen, heads of state and royalty, this is not the main reason it stands out from the pack.What sets Comlux apart is the its rather holistic approach combining under its umbrella pretty much all the services that a private jet owner may need: from aircraft trading and brokerage, to cabin completions, from maintenance and technical services to on-demand charters and aircraft management. What’s more, not content with that, Comlux has also been instrumental in the design of a new aircraft type, the Airbus TwoTwenty, which has de facto created a new category within the executive jet industry.In this episode of the podcast, done in partnership with Comlux, Richard Gaona shares some insights about the fascinating and exclusive world in which Comlux operates in: the top tier of corporate aviation. But with Richard we also talk extensively about the new TwoTwenty aircraft, the corporate version of the state-of-the-art A220 airliner, a project that is very dear to him, since Comlux has had a major role in its development from its inception.The idea behind the TwoTwenty is that you can combine the economic and operational performance of a purpose-built business jet, with the spaciousness of an airliner.Comlux delivered (and operates) the first TwoTwenty to Dubai based luxury hospitality group FIVE in the Spring of 2023 and will be fitting the cabins of the next sixteen of the type that Airbus produces. So, tune in for an in-depth conversation about one of the most fascinating companies operating right now in commercial aviation!

Mark Hiller is the CEO of RECARO Holding and RECARO Aircraft Seating.Germany-based RECARO is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft seats. Although RECARO is present in, pretty much all segments of the market, its position is particularly strong in low cost and hybrid airlines, where it gets close to a third of the market worldwide.Yes, you read that right!…roughly one of every three seats in this segment of the airline industry are made by this family-owned company headquartered in the picturesque town of Schwäbisch-Hall the southwest of Germany! (although not all seats are made there, since RECARO has now factories in several other locations around the world).So, few people know the aircraft seat market as well as Mark Hiller, RECARO’s CEO, our guest today on the podcast.In this episode, done in partnership with RECARO, we explore not just the fascinating story of the company, that started making chassis for Porsche sports cars, but will also review the current state of the aircraft seating industry and its main trends.We also have some time, of course, to discuss some of the most original aircraft seat concepts that have been floated recently and their chances of becoming (or not!) a reality in the near future. Another topic that we touch upon is that of premium cabins (first, business and premium economy), an area in which RECARO has been investing significant resources and unveiling a whole range of innovative products lately.Chances are that if your are reading this, you fly with certain regularity and, therefore, it is very, very likely you have spent time sitting on one of RECARO’s seats, so, I am sure this episode of the podcast will offer you a new perspective on the matter! Download this episode from:Apple Podcasts / iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcasts Things we talk about in this episode Mark’s professional backgroundThe long and fascinating story of RecaroWhat markets is Recaro active inRecaro’s focus on economy class seats and how it has expanded its range to cover also business class and premium economyHow Recaro co-brands its seats with some airlinesHow long are the aircraft seat design and procurement cycles How Recaro develops new aircraft seat conceptsWhat are the main drivers of sustainability in the aircraft seat industryStanding passengers, stacked seats and other ideas…How you can innovate in the aircraft seat industry while remaining within the bounds of what is feasible todayHow is the aircraft seat industry preparing for the arrival of eVTOLs ResourcesRecaro Aircraft SeatingRecaro GroupThe Porsche 356, one of the iconic cars that Recaro built chassis for (before the company specializes in making seats)My 2021 piece for The Points Guy about the opening of Recaro’s new factory in Schwäbisch HallMy post on the Places of Charm travel blog about the historical town of Schwäbisch Hall and about the nearby museum of German rural lifeTrends in airline seating, my piece on AerotimeFrontier Airlines & Alaska Airlines seats co-branded with Recaro“Xtend” seatRecaro’s acquisition of a Polish train seat manufacturerTrains and planes in Europe, my piece for CNN on thisPodcast Music: Five Armies by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3762-five-armiesLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Interview Transcript:(please note that, although we strive to make it as close as possible to the original recording, the transcript may not be 100% accurate)

Things we talk about in this episode Jay’s professional background and experience in aviation IdeaWorksCompany research and its reports about the airline industry Is there a clear distinction between low cost and full service carriers anymore? Which ancillaries are the most important for airlines right now? Is it realistic to think of airlines as retailers in the broad sense of the word?

Things we talk about in this episode Addison’s background in the aerospace industry and, particularly, in jet engine manufacturing and engineering What is a vertiport What is the business model of Skyports How did Skyports get started What are the requirements of a vertiport How much does it cost to set up a vertiport Some prominent Skyports vertiport projects

Things we talk about in this episode George background in the seaplane industry What is Jekta and what sort of seaplane is it designing The difference between a seaplane and an amphibious aircraft Why seaplanes are a niche segment within the aviation industry What are the innovative technologies that Jekta is planning to use Why an electric seaplane can be a game changer?

Things we talk about in this episode: Marc’s entrepreneurial background and how he got into aviation What is Xwing and what it is trying to do What is the state of autonomous flight technology What has Xwing achieved so far What are the obstacles Xwing faces How and who is funding Xwing What are the most immediate applications of autonomy What is the potential of autonomous flight technology

Jenny Kavanagh is Chief Strategy Officer at Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, one of the leading players in the UK’s emerging sustainable aviation ecosystem. Although its shares a name and its roots with Cranfield University (it is, in fact, spun-off from this renowned academic institution over two decades ago), Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is an independent business that until recently was focused on the design and certification of aircraft and aircraft modifications. With sustainability quickly becoming a major driving force for innovation in the aerospace industry, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions has switched its focus to the search of new propulsion technologies and the design of greener aircraft. Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is currently involved in several initiatives that involve the use of hydrogen as aviation fuel. It is, for example, an active participant in Project Fresson, a project funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), a British governmental entity that support research in green aviation and it has also merged with Britten-Norman, the manufacturer of the iconic Islander regional aircraft, in order to develop an hydrogen-powered airliner. So, in this episode of the podcast we chat with Jenny about this and other aspects of the Cranfield Aerospace Solutions operations, to better understand the role this company plays in making of the UK one of the leading hubs of the hydrogen-powered aviation industry. Check it out!

Things we talk about in this episode: Damon’s and Andy’s story and background The story of Magpie Aviation Magpie’s towed aircraft concept Pros and cons of towing aircraft mid-air Does Magpie’s concept of towed aircraft make sense economically Milestones achieve by Magpie Aviation and what comes next

Things we talk about in this episode: Adam and Morell’s story and background What is EBACE? Why EBACE matters and not just for those that fly private jets? Which interesting novelties were presented at EBACE this year? How is the executive aviation industry embracing sustainability. Is it doing enough? Can the executive jet industry contribute to greener air travel?

Things we talk about in this episode: Ivan’s background in the tech and aviation industries What is TNMT and what role it plays within the Lufthansa Innovation Hub What main tech trends in the aviation and travel industries is TNMT monitoring How artificial intelligence (AI) can affect the travel industry How TNMT applies Gartner’s “hype cycle” methodology to evaluate new aviation tech What are the most promising propulsion and technology aviation technologies (supersonic flight, airships, electric aviation, hydrogen, SAF, advanced air mobility), according to TNMT