The Crystal Cabin Awardthe most prestigious award in the field of cabin technology and passenger experience, for 2024 saw winning Safran CabinAccenture GmbH, Thales AvionicsFactorydesign, Collins Aerospace and Tongji University. Diehl Aviation received the Crystal Cabin Award in two categories: “Passenger Comfort” and “Sustainable Cabin”.
A jury made up of 28 industry experts made the selection the eight most innovative products among a wide range of proposals: the winning projects represent a vision of air travel more connected, more comfortable, more sustainable and more accessible than ever.
“This year’s proposals included many outstanding innovations that set new standards for the passenger experience by better recognizing and responding to individual passenger needs, across all ticket classes“, commented Ralf Gust, President of the Crystal Cabin Awards Association. “The 2024 Crystal Cabin Awards demonstrated once again that innovation in aviation continues unabated. It’s impressive to see so many creative solutions developed to make travel more comfortable, safer and more environmentally friendly. We are proud to recognize these innovative developments and look forward to seeing the impact these innovations will have on the future of flight”.
Cabin design winner: Factorydesign, Coop. BermudAir “The Classy Suite of the BermudAir Corridor”
There BermudAir Aisle Class Suite is a business class passenger seat for single-aisle aircraft flying from the United States to Bermuda. It was created by converting 2-2 Economy seats into a 1-1 suite. This is a solution economical and sustainableas over 70% of existing seats are reused: instead of designing new seats, existing ones were remodeled to offer greater comfort and additional storage space.
Material and components: Collins Aerospace “STARLight”
STARLight by Collins Aerospace it is a structural technology that uses advanced composite designs, robotic manufacturing and sustainable materials to reduce the weight of aircraft components while lowering production costs. This technology allows airlines to design efficiently cabin spaces without adding weight and offers improved thermal and acoustic insulation properties.
Cabin systems: Safran “theCUBE” cabin
The Safran kitchen waste disposal unit, theCUBE, can be easily integrated into any unused space in the kitchen and is automatically unloaded simply by closing the door. With a concept plug and play and using standard ARINC rail, it is easy to install and remove, simplifying maintenance and adding flexibility for the airline. The CUBE uses 30% less water for each flush compared to conventional disposal containers and automatically activates UV light for odor control and bacteria prevention when closed. This ensures a system of waste disposal on board leaner, more efficient and hygienic.
Health & Safety Winner: Accenture GmbH “Accenture PED Safety Grant”
Lithium-ion battery fires pose a huge risk to flight safety. There PED safety bag (Personal Electronic Device) from Accenture is the first to meet the highest standard UL 5800 Performance Level 1, which guarantees complete containment of fire, smoke and toxic gases in case of lithium battery failure. With the increasing use of personal electronic devices and reports of lithium battery fires in airplanes, it offers a double protection: The inner bag keeps flames and heat away, while the outer bag keeps smoke from entering the cabin. Intelligent insulation ensures that the outside temperature of the bag does not exceed 85°C. The jury was impressed that, in the event of a PED fire, a plane can continue to fly safely for up to six hours before reaching an airport.
Passenger Comfort Winner: Diehl Aviation, Coop. Qantas Airways Ltd “The Wellbeing Zone”
With “Project Sunrise“, Qantas plans to redefine the historic Kangaroo route from London to Sydney by flying passengers non-stop in less than a day. Direct flights from Sydney to London and New York will set new standards for ultra-long flights, with a focus on passenger comfort and health. The innovative Wellness area offers the highest quality products, biorhythm-optimized lighting and real glass doors. The area is accessible to all passengers, promotes healthy eating and offers space for physical activity.
IFEC and digital services: Thales Avionics “FlytEdge”
FlytEdge by Thales Avionics is the first solution of in-flight entertainment (IFE) cloud-based and natively digital: the platform enables rapid integration of any web application, including streaming services, and offers fully remote operations, software and content updates anytime, anywhere.
It allows full autonomy for airlines and continuous evolution, supported by innovative technologies as edge caching. It is an innovative solution that optimizes airline operations while improving the passenger experience.
Sustainable Cabin: Diehl Aviation “ECO Sidewall”
With the’ECO Sidewall, Diehl Aviation presents an innovative and eco-efficient concept that sets new standards in sustainable aviation. Thanks to the use of lightweight materials and an innovative design, the weight of the side wall has been reduced by 10%, which reduces the CO2 footprint in the production phase by 19% and emissions during operation by 10%.
Advanced technologies also reduce waste from prepreg blanks by more than a third. This holistic approach makes ECO Sidewall a particularly environmentally friendly solution that meets customer expectations for sustainable products and processes. A result that was rewarded by the jury with the Crystal Cabin Award 2024.
University Winners: Tongji University, Coop. Dupont “Flexifold”
The category “University” is one of the most innovative areas of the Crystal Cabin Awards and aims to provide a space for particularly creative projects. For 2024 the prize goes to a team from Tongji University in Shanghai for the concept “Flexifold“. The innovative Economy seat offers airlines greater flexibility and new revenue opportunities.
A folding and clipping mechanism provides efficient body support. The design combines lightness and comfort with three customizable privacy cushions, reclining angle and footrest that can be easily attached to existing seats.
