We got to connect with existing clients and new faces at the 98th Annual AAAE Conference and Exposition in Los Angeles, May 3 – 5, 2026. Watch the short video below, as Joe S Agati takes us on a tour of the booth! Also, scroll down for feedback and thoughts from AAAE attendees and AGATI team members.
Watch the video on the right as Joe S. Agati points out how each piece of furniture serves different needs in airports. He describes the importance of both durability and visual appeal, pointing out integrated power access, adaptable layouts, premium materials, and ergonomic seating features that support today’s connected travelers. He explains how AGATI furniture helps airports create welcoming environments that improve passenger satisfaction without compromising operational efficiency.
Those face-to-face interactions we get with airport executives and architects at AAAE are so valuable when exploring specific airport project needs. Read on for what we learned -both from people with boots-on-the-ground and those in conceptual planning stages, and how AGATI Furniture is responding to, and predicting airport needs.
“This (Departures) is one of the most comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat in. The angle is perfect because you’re not looking directly at anyone else. Instead, you’re looking at their profile. You have an open line of visibility, and all of the necessary ammentities -with a place to put coffee and charge your phone.”
“B” Bheodari, Retired CEO Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
You put these in terminals? They feel so first-class that they look like they’re for the lounge!
The tabletop is perfect for a phone and a drink!
I’m a big guy. I know I’ll be squished between people on the plane. I don’t want to be squished between people at the gate. I like that it is staggered. It gives me space to relax comfortably before my flight.
I have no desire to put my bag on the seat next to me. With the table and angle, I instinctually keep my bag with me. This solves the lost seat problem.
The AAAE conference is so valuable because we get those face-to-face interactions. I really enjoy connecting with our existing clients and meeting new clients.
I’m excited about the interest that Departures Seating has received! It’s really filling a void in the market. People have commented on how “elevated” all of the furniture in our booth feels -in terms of both aesthetics and level of comfort.
The most common feedback we received is that people can also see Departures Seating in airport lounges. It fits the needs for both gate seating and airport lounges, because it meets both high density seating quotas and has that first-class feel. Departures is available in so many variations that it can be adapted for both environments.
Beret is sitting in our newly launched Etta Highback Lounge Chair, next to our Etta Guest Armchair.
It’s important for us to regularly connect with our clients at venues like the AAAE exhibit, because we get feedback on how the furniture is working out. Since so many clients shared positive experiences and want to use again for more projects, it affirms that we’re on the right track.
At AGATI, we’ve always tried to stay ahead of the track by anticipating airport needs and designing solutions to fill those needs -sometimes even before airports realize they have that need. This year, I shared some of our specific new ideas with clients, architects and designers to get their feedback. I bring their feedback and ideas home to our product design team, so we can integrate them and genuinely give airports what they want and need.
We also watch how people engage with the furniture. This year, an airport executive used our POD for a Teams meeting. When she finished, she told me:
I did an entire Teams meeting on my phone, in the middle of the busy convention center, in the POD, and it worked great. Not only could I hear them, but they could also hear me!
I appreciated the opportunity to both meet people, and also witness how they interacted with our airport furniture in a high volume environment.
I noticed that a lot of people utilized the Orb Cluster and Gee Pinwheel. Both seating solutions are intended to preserve the idea of personal space in busy places. People regularly took breaks from walking the exposition to relax, take phone calls and eat by themselves at the Orb and Gee.
We would love to hear about any projects you are working on, or answer any questions. Reach out to me with your specific needs, and we’ll work together to find the right solution for your airport. We typically respond within 24 hours!
