The Crystal Cabin Award is to aircraft interiors what the Oscar is to films. Earlier this year, a couple days after the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for this year?s Oscars, the Crystal Cabin Award Association released its shortlist for the 2017 honors.
For 11 years now, it has been the annual indicator of trends in aircraft cabins and passenger experience: the Crystal Cabin Award. After last year?s tenth anniversary awards attracted so much attention for winners and finalists all over the world, the 2017 competition is more international and more hotly contested than ever before. 85 applicants from 21 countries have made it onto the shortlist this time round. This is not just a new record in terms of countries; it is also the third time in a row to see a new record for shortlist entries. Aircraft manufacturers, airlines, suppliers, engineering firms and universities are battling it out to take home this year?s striking white trophies, traditionally awarded on the first evening of the Aircraft Interiors Expo (4 ? 6 April, 2017) in Hamburg. Submissions range from complete cabin systems to innovative individual components, from an economy seat for short-haul flights to luxury cabins for long-haul private jets.Delta One SuiteIn the airline?s new all-suite business cabins, each passenger has a private space that is accessed by a sliding door and includes stowage areas, an advanced in-flight entertainment system, and premium materials, trim...