The Crystal Cabin Award, the world’s leading accolade for innovations in aircraft cabins, launches its next round with exciting new developments. For the first time, a category for accessibility is being introduced, reflecting the growing need for inclusive travel.

Companies, institutions and students have until October 23, 2024 to submit their applications for the Crystal Cabin Award in eight different categories.

A high-profile international jury, consisting of 28 industry experts, will first determine the finalists in a multi-stage selection process and finally announce the winners on April 8, 2025, during the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. Applications can now be submitted at www.application.crystal-cabin-award.com.

New Standards for Aviation: Eight Categories in Competition

The Crystal Cabin Award is one of the most coveted international awards in the aviation industry. The 2024 winners included Accenture, Diehl Aviation, Qantas Airways, Collins Aerospace, Thales Avionics, Factorydesign, BermudAir, Safran Cabin and Tongji University. For 2025, a new category focusing on “Accessibility” will be launched for the first time, recognizing innovations that improve accessibility within the aircraft cabin to provide a more inclusive and comfortable experience for all passengers, including those with disabilities or reduced mobility. Also new is the merger of the “Cabin Systems” and “Material & Components” categories into “Cabin Technologies”.

Take Advantage of the Early Bird Discount

This year again, applicants have the opportunity to benefit from an early bird discount. Participants who submit their application by October 4, 2024, are entitled to a reduced entry fee of 280 euros (plus 19% VAT for EU submissions). After that, the entry fee will be 380 euros (plus 19% VAT for EU submissions), as in the previous year. Students applying in the University category are, of course, exempt from all entry fees.

The Eight Crystal Cabin Award Categories at a Glance:

Accessibility (New)

Innovations that improve accessibility within the aircraft cabin, providing an inclusive and comfortable experience for all passengers, including those with disabilities or reduced mobility. Submissions can include improvements in seats, toilets, cabin layout, assistive technologies, and other design elements that remove barriers and facilitate access and use. The focus is on solutions that seamlessly integrate into the cabin environment while significantly improving accessibility and the overall passenger experience.

Cabin Concepts – presented by AERQ

This category rewards holistic cabin concepts. In addition to implementations already in use or on the verge of market readiness, visionary future ideas are also considered. “Cabin Concepts” is aimed at manufacturers as well as design firms and airlines.

Cabin Technologies

New materials, new material applications, or new material combinations specifically for aircraft cabin systems to reduce production costs, improve usability, and enhance recyclability. From innovative seating structures to efficient galleys to sustainable waste and drinking water systems – this category covers a wide spectrum of forward-looking aircraft components that revolutionize the travel experience. An innovative technical component, material, or product that offers significant benefits to airlines can be submitted. However, this category does not include mature products such as seats, digital systems like the “intelligent cabin” (see IFEC and Digital Services), or solutions specifically aimed at passenger comfort (see Passenger Comfort).

Health & Safety

This category recognizes innovative cabin-related solutions that noticeably enhance safety, health, and well-being on board – whether for passengers, crew, or cargo. We are looking for groundbreaking concepts that make flying safer and more hygienic.

IFEC & Digital Services

One of the fastest developing arenas in the aviation industry, IFEC is changing at breath-taking speed. Entries here must demonstrate technological superiority over competing products and cover in-flight entertainment solutions, connectivity equipment such as antennas and Wi-Fi, passenger apps or complete software solutions for a smart, connected cabin.

Passenger Comfort

Entries in this category must concretely demonstrate how they improve passenger comfort in the cabin. An innovation that is of general benefit to a large group of people may receive a higher rating due to its greater effectiveness for the airline’s success. This category includes seats, toilets, storage compartments, partitions, lighting solutions, trim panels, premium, business and first-class products, VIP products, to name but a few.

Sustainable Cabin – presented by Panasonic Avionics Corporation 

The aviation industry faces its greatest challenge: becoming emission-free in just three decades. This ambitious vision requires revolutionary innovations in all areas – from cabin technology to the passenger experience. Travelers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and demanding sustainable solutions. Airlines must act to remain competitive. With the “Sustainable Cabin” category, the Crystal Cabin Award seeks groundbreaking ideas that demonstrably and significantly reduce the ecological impact of aviation.

University

The University category gives students the chance to present their forward-looking products and ideas for the aircraft cabin to the world public and make important contacts within the industry. The submitted concepts should make flying more comfortable, smarter, or more ecological.

The application form and conditions of entry, an overview of the 2024 winners and a more detailed explanation of all Crystal Cabin Award categories can be found online at www.crystal-cabin-award.com.

The application period runs until October 23, 2024.

The Crystal Cabin Award is supported by:

Platinum Sponsors: AERQ (Category Sponsor: Cabin Concepts), Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Category Sponsor: Sustainable Cabin)

Gold Sponsors: Airbus, The Boeing Company, Collins Aerospace, Diehl Aviation, Lufthansa Technik, Safran, Thales, Thompson Aero Seating

Trophy Sponsor: Krüger Aviation

Online Sponsors: Jetliner Cabins, Sekisui Kydex

Crystal Cabin Award Show Partner: Aircraft Interiors Expo, Jetway Communications

Media Partners: Aircraft Interiors International, APEX, Flight Chic, Flightglobal, Future Travel Experience, Inflight Magazine, PaxEx Aero, Runway Girl Network

About the Crystal Cabin Award

The Crystal Cabin Award is THE international prize for innovations in the field of aircraft cabin. Under the motto “Let your ideas take off,” a high-profile jury of renowned scientists, engineers, representatives of aircraft manufacturers and airlines, and specialist journalists awards exceptional cabin concepts and products. The competition was initiated by the Hamburg Aviation aviation cluster and is organised by the Crystal Cabin Award e.V. Since 2007, this unique award has been presented annually at the Aircraft Interiors Expo held in Hamburg. The trophies have now become a globally known and coveted seal of quality.

Featured image credited to Jan Brandes