Crystal Cabin Awards presented in Hamburg

Ralf Gust, President of the Crystal Cabin Awards Association, said: “We are setting a path for a more inclusive, creative and sustainable future of flying with new categories like 'Accessibility' and 'Judges’ Choice: Airline Innovation'. The winning concepts show that it’s no longer just about comfort – it’s about personal relevance, technological intelligence and social responsibility.” The winning ideas paint a more connected, comfortable, sustainable and accessible future of aviation.

Diehl Aviation scooped the awards in the "Sustainable Cabin" and "Accessibility" categories.  The company's “ECO Bin” is the world’s first fully recyclable, overhead stowage compartment, and marks a major leap toward sustainable cabin design by lowering both fuel consumption and emissions. Its “Space³” concept redefines barrier-free travel thanks to a smart, accessible cabin for passengers with reduced mobility. Claudia Friedrich, Managing Director of Interface Design at Zweigrad and a member of the jury, remarked: "We listened, learnt and adapted - us and our product. This was not only a statement, but also a reality lived by Diehl Aviation's 'Space³' to ensure fairness and dignity for everyone while travelling.”

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific won the awards in the "Judges' Choice: Airline Innovation" and "Passenger Comfort" categories. This ground-breaking In-Flight Entertainment & Control (IFEC) system unifies in-flight entertainment and cabin environment control like never before. Passengers can now manage lighting, seat position, and crew communication through fully integrated “Activity Modes” The airline's “Gallery in the Skies” turns the cabin into a flying art gallery and showcases 30 works by artists with deep ties to Hong Kong - one masterpiece per retrofitted aircraft.

Collins Aerospace’s won the award in the Cabin Technologies category thanks to its “galley.ai” system. The system makes for intelligent and connected onboard meal services by combining AI and sensor technology to optimize crew workflows, passenger communication, and maintenance. By linking galley equipment, crew tools, and cabin interfaces, galley.ai creates a more efficient, co-ordinated, and passenger-focused in-flight experience. “Safran Connected Interiors” won the "IFEC & Digital Services" category. Its new IoT solution digitalises maintenance and converts real-time data into actionable insights. The system is compatible with different types of aircraft, reduces downtimes, lowers operating costs and improves the passenger experience.

China's Tongji University's “Ultra-lightweight Display System” reimagines in-flight entertainment by using compact projectors and gesture recognition instead of seatback screens. Integrated into the Passenger Service Unit, the system projects content onto surfaces such as windows, tables or cabin partitions - saving weight, maintenance and energy. Tongji University won a Crystal Cabin Award in the "University" category in co-operation with Boeing for this IFEC option and offers passengers a flexible, immersive experience.
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