Finalists of Crystal Cabin Awards 2023 to be announced

Air New Zealand’s Skynest offers lie-in bunks that can be booked to help passengers in the economy class recuperate on long haul flights. The integrated Crew Rest Compartment for Single-Aisle Aircraft by Diehl Aviation adds a foldable flat rest space for crew in single-aisle jets, using the crew jump seats as a support. Meanwhile, the Lufthansa Group has submitted the Allegris system of flexible seating options. Customers can choose from 14 seat types in four travel classes to suit their personal needs. The offers include double suites and beds with soft mattresses for more comfort.

The finalists in this category include Collins Aerospace's Q-Tech for noise reduction in the cabin. J&C Aero's Jump Seat Duo integrates a foldable wheelchair into the crew's jump seat for passengers with reduced mobility. Thales Avionics is presenting the Onboard Data-Center (ODC) that brings web-based technologies aboard the aircraft and provides more storage space.

Passengers have higher demands on cabin health and safety in the wake of the pandemic. Pothos is one of three entries by Collins Aerospace in the final round. The company’s technology uses ionization to purify and de-odour air in the cabin. The other finalists include Sweden's CTT Systems with its Humidification Onboard Pure Air system to clean the cabin of fumes and ozone introduced via bleed air. 

Adient Aerospace, in partnership with Boeing EnCore Interiors, is offering business customers on single-aisle aircraft more space on long-haul flights. The Ascent Front Row Suite removes the overhead bin and moves the seat towards the window. It also offers a desk, minibar and library, as well as a flat bed and a seat for a companion. The Airbus A350 Airspace Cabin offers more space for larger galleys, a new upper-roof flight crew rest compartment and a bigger forward lavatory. Another finalist, InteliSence by Collins Aerospace, uses cameras and sensors, as well as AI with deep learning, to monitor interactions and provide reliable and predictive information about passengers' ideal travel experiences.

Connectivity in the cabin is a top priority nowadays. In the IFEC and Digital Services category, Airbus has developed the Airspace Link HBCplus to link up to various IT services via satellite. AirFi and Iridium's LEO system lets passengers use WhatsApp and iMessage through a pen-sized antenna. The third finalist, Skyted hopes to reduce noise during video calls with a WLAN-integrated face mask. Three novel products in the Sustainable Cabin category include the BioMat Sidewall Panel made of sustainable resin and recycled cohesive fibres by Airbus, a cabin liner with integrated vacuum insulation by Diehl Aviation and an ultra-light carpet by Lantal Textiles.

Three unconventional designs from the Delft University of Technology have reached the university category. An ultra-lightweight seat by Alba Seating Concept saves weight with a special seat fabric, while a lightweight seat by Horus can be used in hydrogen-powered aircraft from 2030. The third entry is a 3D-printed cushion for more seating comfort.

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