44 / OPINION
Emerging markets
Marking a new era The future of onboard hospitality is already being shaped in emerging markets, says Federico Germani, Group Chief Commercial Officer and President LATAM & APME, gategroup
For much of aviation’s history, innovation has been associated with established hubs in Europe and North America. Yet from my perspective, some of the industry’s most significant advances are now emerging elsewhere. Across Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, rapidly growing aviation markets are redefining operational excellence, culinary innovation and passenger experience. These regions offer significant opportunities but require a different approach. I see this evolution particularly clearly in Latin America. As the hub caterer for several of the region’s largest airlines, gategroup’s operations span eight countries, 16 catering facilities and 34 airline customers. In my view, the true measure of success is not the scale of the network, it’s our ability to tailor solutions to each airline while responding to the unique realities of every market. One example is gategroup’s São Paulo Competence Center, producing approximately 17,500 meals daily for around 30 long-haul departures. Many of our facilities retain in-house bakery and pastry production, preserving the flexibility and authenticity increasingly valued by airlines and passengers alike.
Tech as a differentiator A trend across emerging aviation markets is the growing role of technology as a defining differentiator. Across gategroup operations in Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Peru, AI-enabled solutions are improving beverage management, inventory visibility and operational accuracy. The goal is not automation for its own sake, but smarter operations that allow our teams to focus on delivering better experiences.
AI-enabled solutions are improving beverage management, inventory visibility and operational accuracy The same philosophy is evident across gategroup’s Asia Pacific and Middle East network. With passenger demand expected to outpace every other region in the coming decades, the opportunity is immense. Our facility at Incheon International Airport reflects that ambition. Automation, intelligent warehousing, advanced production technologies and digital food safety systems and integrated waste processing work together to create a highly efficient operation. One lesson is clear: the future of onboard hospitality will belong to organisations that successfully unite technology with craftsmanship, global capability with local insight, and operational excellence with meaningful passenger experiences. Across Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, that future is already taking shape. •
onboardhospitality.com
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06/08/2026 13:21