The 13th Crystal Cabin Awards were presented this week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo event in Hamburg. The winners included Airbus, United Airlines, Air New Zealand, Recaro, Paperclip Design, TU Delft and Collins Aerospace.

The awards, initiated by Hamburg Aviation, set another new record for submissions this year, with more than 100 entries from 22 countries.

The winners are as follows:

Cabin Concepts

Airbus’ Lower Deck Pax Experience modules are flexible compartments which use the airliner space conventionally reserved for cargo. In no time at all, beds, lounges and play areas can be created where, until now, suitcases have been stored.

Passenger Comfort Hardware

German seat manufacturer RECARO took the award, with a long-haul seat that aims to make economy class travel more pleasant thanks to neck support and adjustable cushioning for the seat and backrest.

Cabin Systems

Collins Aerospace‘s “Flex Duet” kiosk can simply be folded out in front of the aircraft door during cruising flight.

Greener Cabin, Health, Safety and Environment

Air New Zealand’s Skycouch enables economy seating to be transformed into a bed surface. New safety belts mean that even babies and infants can lie safely on the folding bed.

In-flight Entertainment and Connectivity

United Airlines’ Entertainment for All larger displays and voice recognition make the in-flight entertainment system accessible.

Material & Components

The uLED Reading Light from Collins Aerospace can project almost any shape of light beam imaginable, providing targeted light for reading at several seats at the same time.

University

Sahngseok Lee from Hongik University in Korea took the prize with the ‘1 For All’ concept, designed in collaboration with seating manufacturer Adient. Various seating classes are nested together in a tetris-like arrangement and connected by stairs, resulting in the best possible use of space.

Visionary Concepts

Paperclip Design’s Peacock Suites promise a variable configuration of First Class cabins as required, from family compartments with a bunk bed to a three-room luxury suite.

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