The finalists of ‘Best Customer Journey Experience’, a special category of the Crystal Cabin Award due to be presented during APEX Global Expo in Long Beach, California on 30th October 2024, have been announced.
The Best Customer Journey Experience category relates to hardware or software products that enrich and enhance the passenger experience throughout the entire air journey. For example, it can cover systems that help passengers plan and book a journey, on-board products for an enjoyable flight, all the way to technologies that ease the journey after landing. Submissions may be targeted at passengers, airlines, manufacturers and/or suppliers. The aim of this category is to provide inspiring examples of service products that can create personalised passenger experiences.
The three finalists have been developed by Skyted, Spafax and Thales. Skyted’s entry, Skyted 320, is a headset that allows passengers to hold private phone or online voice conversations in noisy environments such as an aircraft cabin without disturbing other passengers.
Skyted’s acoustic technology, developed in collaboration with the French Aerospace Lab (ONERA), with backing from organisations such as Airbus and the European Space Agency (EASA), enables users to enjoy crystal-clear conversations without external disturbances or the risk of being overheard. Skyted 320 and its control app offer features including compatibility with various communication platforms, AI-powered noise cancellation to eliminate ambient noise, and advanced voice amplification for clear communication even when whispering.
Spafax is in the running with its Connected Content Stream (CCS), developed in cooperation with Sportmonks. CCS enriches the passenger travel journey by seamlessly delivering tailored, highly relevant entertainment content that engages passengers at every step of their trip, from viewing content at home, to streaming content in the airport lounge, to enjoying inflight entertainment in the skies.
Spafax’s first-of-its-kind streaming experience allows passengers to stay connected for the entire duration of their journey via their own device, following a log-in via the wi-fi portal. Meanwhile, the low bandwidth of CCS addresses airline concerns over the high data costs associated with offering live content streaming. Passengers enjoy numerous benefits, with sports fans catered for with as up-to-the-minute sports updates can be delivered on board via a ‘live ticker’ function.
The third finalist, Thales, has created a suite of IFE accessibility solutions to enable more inclusive flying. Developed in collaboration with some of the world’s leading accessibility organisations, Thales’ advanced suite of accessibility solutions is designed to assist passengers with visual and hearing impairments.
This includes a unique accessibility user interface, featuring a familiar structure and flow, with 13 intuitive gesture controls that mirror the gestures many use on smartphones and tablets. Thales is also developing a ‘Signing Avatar’ that provides sign language to complement closed captions. The Avatar can sign in multiple languages and is fully customisable according to an airline’s requirements.
Sponsors and partners of the Crystal Cabin Award include AerQ, Panasonic Avionics, Airbus, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Diehl Aviation, Lufthansa Technik, Safran, Thales, Thompson Aero Seating, Jetliner Cabins, Sekisui Kydex, Aircraft Interiors Expo, and Aircraft Interiors International. If you would like information about sponsorship opportunities and packages, contact Jette Koch: jette.koch@hamburg-aviation.com
