2026 Cabin Air Quality Conference

Cabin Air Quality Conference 2026

Conference Overview

The 2026 Cabin Air Quality Conference brought together aviation safety professionals, Flight Attendants, pilots, labor representatives, regulators, engineers, medical professionals, researchers, manufacturers, and advocates to address cabin air contamination, fume events, occupational exposure, prevention, reporting, medical response, and emerging technology.

A consistent message throughout the conference was that cabin air quality must be treated as both an aviation safety issue and an occupational health and safety issue.

The discussion also reflected an important shift in focus: the industry should not simply become better at responding to fume events after they occur. The priority should be preventing exposure in the first place.

Prevention, Reporting & Worker Involvement

Bilal Malkawi of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) emphasized that preventing exposure requires cooperation among aircraft and engine manufacturers, airlines, regulators, researchers, medical professionals, labor organizations, and frontline aviation workers. Workers must have a meaningful voice in developing solutions. Reporting systems should not be designed without input from the employees expected to use them, and monitoring or detection systems should not be implemented without input from those who will rely on them during actual operations.

Captain Patrick Bovens of IFALPA discussed several areas where additional action is needed, including:

• Basic and appropriate fume-event training for crews
• Standardized reporting
• Bleed-air filtration and real-time detection
• Development and implementation of TCP-free oils
• Comprehensive and standardized medical protocols following exposure

Reporting was a recurring theme throughout the conference. Regulators from the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority discussed the difficulty of investigating cabin air events when reports lack sufficient technical, operational, or medical information.

For Flight Attendants, the details we provide matter. When possible, reports should document where an odor or contamination was noticed, what it smelled like, when it occurred, the phase of flight, aircraft conditions, whether there was visible haze or smoke, symptoms experienced, duration of the event, and actions taken.

Accurate reporting can help maintenance, safety professionals, regulators, labor organizations, and researchers identify patterns and potential sources that might otherwise be missed.

Aircraft Systems, Detection & Prevention

Several presentations focused on how cabin air enters and moves through an aircraft and the potential sources of contamination.

On most commercial jet aircraft, cabin ventilation and pressurization air originates through the engines or APU. Presenters emphasized that contaminants originating in this bleed-air stream are not filtered before the air enters the cabin. Recirculated cabin air is filtered separately. The Boeing 787 uses a different, bleed-free architecture for cabin ventilation.

Aircraft Systems Engineer Andre Serra of TAP discussed investigations of odor events and the importance of detailed crewmember reports in determining possible sources.

Potential sources can include engine or APU oil, hydraulic fluid, electrical problems, galley equipment, deicing fluid, burned rubber, and exhaust from other aircraft. Where and when an odor is noticed can provide important information when determining its source.

The conference also examined emerging and existing technologies designed to provide additional layers of protection, including:

• Real-time air-quality monitoring
• Bleed-air filtration
• VOC/ozone converter technology
• Aircraft system modifications
• Improved preventative maintenance
• Development of less-toxic aviation oils
• Continued development of bleed-free aircraft systems

Dr. Olivia Cromwell of BASF presented data involving VOC/ozone converter technology designed to remove certain contaminants from bleed air. Operational data presented showed reductions in reported odor events and maintenance events where no fault could be identified.

Halvor Erikstein of the Norwegian Union of Energy Workers discussed efforts to develop turbine oils that consider both equipment performance and human toxicity. A simple principle from his presentation captured the issue well:

“Performance qualification protects the turbine. Toxicological qualification protects the people.”

Medical Response & Occupational Health

The medical response following a cabin air event was another major focus.

Dr. Denis Bron of the Swiss Air Force discussed reported symptoms associated with cabin air contamination. Potential contaminants discussed included organophosphates, thermally degraded oil products, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, ultrafine particles, and deicing fluids.

Reported symptoms following exposure can include respiratory or eye irritation, headache, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, balance problems, sensory changes,  and other neurological or respiratory symptoms. Conference participants emphasized that symptoms may occur during the event or develop later. The absence of immediate symptoms does not necessarily mean follow-up is unnecessary.

One of the continuing challenges is the lack of standardized aviation-specific medical protocols. Healthcare providers may have limited experience evaluating cabin air exposures and may not know what information or testing could be relevant.

The conference emphasized the importance of documenting the event, documenting symptoms, seeking appropriate medical evaluation when necessary, and maintaining records of follow-up care.

Another concern identified through international reporting data was a disconnect between employees reporting physical symptoms and those seeking medical attention following an event.

The Human Impact – Jonelle Flynn

One of the most powerful presentations came from Sean Flynn of the Jonelle Flynn Foundation for Cabin Air Safety, who shared the story of his mother, Jonelle Flynn, a Flight Attendant with a 48-year career that included PSA, US Airways, and American Airlines.

Jonelle experienced three significant reported fume events during her career—in 2016, 2018, and 2022. Following these events, she experienced serious respiratory problems and was eventually diagnosed with interstitial lung disease in August 2025.Jonelle continued actively flying as late as November 2025. She passed away on January 1, 2026.

 Her family's message to the aviation community was: “No one should have to give their last  breath for their job.”

Her story reinforced one of the conference's most important messages for crewmembers: advocate for yourself and document everything.

Multiple Layers of Safety

Captain Rondeau Flynn of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) discussed cabin air quality using Dr. James Reason's Swiss Cheese Model of Safety.

There is no single solution capable of preventing every cabin air event. Effective protection requires multiple layers of defense.

Those layers can include prevention, aircraft design, maintenance, detection, filtration, less-toxic fluids, crew education, accurate reporting, medical protocols, research, regulatory oversight, and worker involvement.

The conference also addressed emerging concerns surrounding smoke and toxic fumes from lithium-ion battery events. Participants emphasized the need to consider the potential health effects of smoke exposure in addition to the immediate fire-suppression response.

Key Takeaways for Flight Attendants

The 2026 Cabin Air Quality Conference reinforced several important priorities:

• Prevention must be the goal. The industry should work toward preventing contaminants from entering occupied aircraft environments rather than relying primarily on crews to recognize an event after exposure has occurred.
• Reporting matters. Detailed reports help identify patterns, possible sources, maintenance issues, and opportunities for prevention.
• Workers need a voice. Flight Attendants and other frontline employees should be involved in developing reporting systems, training, detection technology, and safety solutions.
• Detection and technology continue to evolve. Real-time monitoring, filtration, aircraft modifications, less-toxic fluids, and bleed-free systems all represent potential additional layers of protection.
• Medical protocols need improvement. Crewmembers need clear guidance regarding medical evaluation, documentation, follow-up, and appropriate care following an exposure.
• Training and education are essential. Flight Attendants need practical information that helps them recognize abnormal cabin conditions, respond appropriately, and provide meaningful information when reporting an event.

Moving Forward

Cabin air quality cannot be addressed through one solution. Effective protection requires prevention, detection, filtration, reporting, maintenance, medical protocols, education, research, regulatory oversight, and meaningful worker participation.

For Flight Attendants, the message from the conference was clear:

• Recognize the event. Report it. Document the circumstances and symptoms. Seek appropriate medical evaluation when necessary.
• Cabin air quality must continue to be treated as both an aviation safety issue and an occupational health and safety issue.