Crystal Cabin Award - international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation // Let your ideas take off. //

This category addresses aircraft cabins showing significant innovation or an aircraft cabin of tomorrow. Cabins can be submitted entirely or in sections, i.e., first class, business class, economy etc.  Cabins that have already been implemented in the months before submission qualify as well. Cabin Concepts can be submitted by airlines, aircraft and cabin manufacturers, design companies and MROs alike. Applicants need to demonstrate why their product is innovative and what differentiates it from existing cabin concepts.

This category comprises all new products that mean a major benefit especially for the airline, e.g. new seat structures, galleys, lavatories, trolleys, air conditioning, electrical systems, waste & potable water systems, acoustics and many more. Aside from the level of innovation, the ease of implementation will be judged as well. This category does not comprise digital systems like the “smart cabin” (->see IFEC & Digital Services), or solutions specifically focusing on passenger comfort (-> see Passenger Comfort)

This category comprises all cabin related concepts and products that visibly demonstrate that they a) minimize security problems, b) safety hazards, c) onboard health and hygiene issues, and/or d) significantly improve physical well-being in the aircraft. Depending on the field of application, entries may focus on passengers, crew or cargo.

This category comprises the fast-growing range of digital products and services in the aviation industry. Entries will need to prove their technological superiority against competing products and may include inflight entertainment solutions, connectivity elements such as antennas and wi-fi, customer-centered concepts like passenger apps, and even entire software solutions that create a smart & connected cabin.

Developing new materials, new material applications or a new combination of materials for cabin systems can cut production costs and maximize usability. This category embraces an enormous variety of different aircraft components. Entries can be an innovative, single technical component, or material, but not a fully developed product like a seat.

This category covers the development of new materials, new material applications or a new combination of materials for cabin systems which can cut production costs, and maximize usability and efficiency. This category embraces an enormous variety of different aircraft components. Entries should be innovative, can be single technical component, or material, but not a fully developed product like a seat.

Travelling comfortably is an important business factor for airlines. Entries in this category must specifically demonstrate how they improve passenger comfort within the cabin. An innovation that is of general use to a large group of individuals may well achieve higher marks due to its increased effectiveness for the airline´s success. This category includes e.g. seats, lavatories, bins, partitions, lighting solutions, linings, premium, business, first class products, VIP products etc. For products with a benefit more towards improved operations and performance, please also see categories like  Cabin Systems.

Aviation has made a commitment to become a zero-emission industry within the next 30 years. This challenge will require a great amount of thought and innovation to be invested into every aspect of aviation, including the cabin and the passenger experience. Aside from the industry commitment, customers are becoming more sensitive for sustainability issues in travel as well, requiring operators to take action. The Crystal Cabin Award Association responds to this development with the Sustainable Cabin category, where we look for entries that can prove their significant impact on the ecological impact of aviation, and contribute to the ultimate transformation of air travel toward a zero-emission industry.

This category provides room for college and university students to present their visions for innovative products and concepts for aircraft interiors. It should reflect the idea of making flying more comfortable, smart or ecological. Blue-sky thinking is encouraged but focus must also be on certificability, practicality and economics. By submitting an application in this category students benefit from gaining important contacts within the industry regarding their professional future.