Cabin Fever: Airline’s put their best products forward for Oscars of on-board design

Cabin Fever: Airline’s put their best products forward for Oscars of on-board design

Some of the most innovative and modern airline products feature on the shortlist for the Crystal Cabin Awards, which was released on Friday.

With passenger numbers resurgent, aviation has once again set its sights high.

To make flying more attractive, sustainable and comfortable, passenger solutions have become an even higher priority across the industry than ever before.

In 2023, the annual Crystal Cabin Awards will serve as a trend indicator for what might be in the skies tomorrow. More than 80 entries qualified for the 2023 shortlist.

This year the renowned trophy will be awarded in eight categories in Hamburg in June during the Aircraft Interiors Expo.

Best of the Best:

Air New Zealand Business Premier LUXE

Air New Zealand Business Premier Luxe

Air New Zealand Skynest

On long-haul flights, providing a relaxing space for sleep becomes a high priority. In Economy, however, passengers often have to make sacrifices. With Skynest, Air New Zealand presents an option for routes such as Auckland-Vancouver which long-haul Economy travellers have long dreamt of: a real, flat bed.

Air New Zealand’s SkyNest

Installed in sleep islands in the middle section of the aircraft, Skynest bunk beds can be booked for time slots, enabling a restive nap above the clouds for those on lower fares.

Ultra-long-haul flights are generally becoming increasingly popular. Those allowing themselves a little more luxury in Premium Economy will in future be able to fold up the armrests and use several seats as a bed; that, at least, is the promise of the Paradym concept by Lift Aero Design.

American Airlines, coop. Teague Next Generation Premium Passenger Experience

Design from Teague for American Airlines.

American Airlines also takes a comprehensive look at the future of long-haul with its new cabin concept. Together with Teague, the carrier presents various layouts for wide- and narrow-body aircraft that provide a neat solution for a well-known problem: the front seat row in premium economy faces a partition instead of a backrest, forcing designers to build tables and screens into these passengers’ seats in turn pushing up maintenance requirements. American Airlines’ concept incorporates tables and screens into the wall in front of the front Premium Economy row.

Delta Flight Products SkyPulse, a software-based system showing live IFE data tracking

Lufthansa Group The future Lufthansa Group cabin

Lufthansa’s Future Cabin

With Allegris, the Lufthansa Group presents a new cabin product from autumn 2023 across all four classes: First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy. While the latter will primarily benefit from more legroom and Premium Economy will enjoy more privacy, Business and First Class offering will see massive upgrades. Guests will find, among other added benefits, suites with double beds or heated seats.

Turkish Airlines Inc. “Green Class“ Concept

Turkish Airlines going green.

Awards are handed out across eight categories: Cabin Concepts, Cabin Systems, Health & Safety, IFEC & Digital Services, Material and Components, Passenger Comfort, Sustainable Cabin and University.

For each category, 28 experts will select three finalists to be announced in May 2023. Participating for the first time: Wahli Ong, VP Product Innovation at Singapore Airlines. With Mariya Stoyanova, Director Product Development at jetBlue, the Crystal Cabin Award Association welcomes another renowned US airline to its jury group.

The finalists will have the opportunity to present their concepts in person to the jury at the world’s leading trade fair for aircraft cabins, the Aircraft Interiors Expo. The winners of the Crystal Cabin Award 2023 will be announced on the evening of 6 June at a gala dinner at the Hamburg Chambers of Commerce.

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