The shortlisted contenders for the 2026 Crystal Cabin Awards have been announced. The judging panel has selected 85 innovations that represent advancements in the aircraft cabin and passenger experience, and that show how the aviation industry is responding to key challenges. The winners will be announced on 14 April 2026 at an event during Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
The Crystal Cabin Award is a prestigious international prize dedicated exclusively to innovations in aircraft cabins. The annual event, which began in 2007, recognises excellence in creating products and concepts that enhance the flying experience, from seating to galleys, to cabin design, inflight entertainment & connectivity (IFEC) and lighting.
Following a nominations process, the entries are evaluated by an independent 27-strong judging panel representing academia, engineering, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and trade media. The award was initiated by the Hamburg Aviation cluster and is organised by the Crystal Cabin Award Association.
There are eight awards categories: Accessibility, Breakthrough Start-ups, Cabin Concepts, Cabin Technologies, IFEC & Digital Services, Passenger Comfort, Sustainable Cabin, and University.
The shortlist highlights three key drivers of innovation: enhancing comfort on long-haul flights; making cabins accessible cabins for all passengers, including those with disabilities; and addressing environmental concerns through the use of sustainable materials and lightweight constructions. Here’s how these industry issues are addressed in the 2026 Crystal Cabin Award shortlist.
Enhancing passenger comfort
The longer flight times enabled by advanced aircraft, and the need to meet a wide range of passenger needs are accelerating the development of new comfort solutions. The submissions for the 2026 awards show how cabin equipment manufacturers are redefining ergonomics, well-being, flexibility and connectivity in all cabin classes.
For example, Airbus has created a cabin concept that redefines the passenger experience. The A350 Airspace interior has been further developed to accommodate an exclusive First Class Master Suite with a double bed, private toilet and bar, with the necessary space created by designing a new centre module.
It is not all about the top-end experience though. Another awards entry, the Spaceframe by BMW Designworks, is a modular, recyclable seating system for economy class that combines comfort and sustainability.
Meanwhile, Collins Aerospace is contending with SkyNook, a flexible retreat zone at the rear of an aircraft that transforms unused space into multifunctional areas useful for families and people with special needs.
In the area of digital connectivity, the awards submissions show how passengers will be able to work and relax online during flights. The AirFi Wingman system from AirFi.aero acts as an AI-powered real-time travel concierge, combining connectivity, shopping and entertainment features in a single product that is at a high level of technological maturity.
Another technology expert, Thales, has teamed up with Diehl Aviation to develop SmartSuite, a system that combines technologies such as Edge computing, AI, IoT and machine vision to increase operational efficiency inside and outside the cabin to offer passengers a continuous travel experience.
Meanwhile United Airlines, together with its partners Starlink, Axinom and Spotify, has introduced a new Cloud-based platform designed to enable a seamless, consistent premium experience on board.
Accessibility: new standards for inclusion and onboard mobility
Accessible travel is one of the hottest topics in commercial air travel today, and industry is responding with new ways to ensure people with varying levels of mobility can enjoy the flight experience.
For example, Mobility Assist is shortlisted for its AeroSlide Transfer System, designed for easier transfers from wheelchair to aircraft seat. An extendable sliding plate enables people to be transferred in a horizontal sliding motion rather than a lifting motion, which helps reduce risk of injury and preserve dignity.
Another entrant, SkyBudi Pty Ltd, wants to take accessibility to a new level with its SkyBudi lightweight reclining seat. With this design, three standard economy seats can be converted into a full-size bed without airlines having to change their cabin equipment.
The bed can provide accessible, dignified, and clinically suitable comfort for passengers with mobility, medical, sensory, or fatigue-related needs. The SkyBudi can be installed in a few minutes, uses existing seat belts for secure fastening, and is universally compatible with narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.
Meanhile Toyota Boshoku Corporation has been shortlisted for its Well-Voyage Seat, a fully removable seat module that enables continuous transport from the airport gate to the cabin without seat transfers, and also facilitates access to the on-board toilet. The system is designed to reduce the risks of manual handling, preserve passenger comfort and dignity, and increase efficiency when boarding and disembarking.
Sustainability: a new generation of seats and materials
The aviation industry is increasingly focusing on environmental responsibility. Entries in the Sustainable Cabin category showcase innovations that ensure comfort while reducing CO₂ emissions.
Expliseat is competing with its TiSeat, an ultra-lightweight economy-class seating solution made from titanium and carbon fibre, while Safran Seats is in the running with Circle, a sustainable seating concept that makes use of recycled materials, and reuses waste, to enable up to a 7 kg weight reduction in a business-class seat.
From the materials sector, Testori Textiles is introducing plant-based fibres for use in seat covers, curtains and surfaces, which meet technical and flame-retardant standards, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen the circular economy.
A new category: Breakthrough Start-ups
The Breakthrough Start-ups category has been introduced for the 2026 awards, which creates more visibility for young companies and helps bring fresh approaches to the aircraft interiors industry.
One such company is Chaise Longue, a small Spanish outfit that has already created a big stir with its Elevated Class concept. This concept for business class combines privacy and community, with quiet suites with personal retreats below, and flexible areas for working, eating or relaxing above. The result is a versatile cabin space that adapts to the individual needs of passengers.
Another start-up is Smair GmbH, which has created smairGO, a digital system for managing the appearance and life cycle of cabins.
The University category: A bright future
The University category is another great showcase for fresh thinking, with students and research institutions demonstrating new ideas for the aircraft cabin.
Hamburg, home of the Crystal Cabin Award, is strongly represented with three projects, including the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences’ smart, networked passenger service unit developed in cooperation with the ZAL Centre for Applied Aeronautical Research.
Another group of students, from the University of Texas at Austin, propose the Twin Aisle NGSA concept, a new seating configuration for greater comfort and efficiency in single-aisle aircraft.
The Georgia Institute of Technology has also made it onto the shortlist three times, in collaboration with Delta Airlines and Airbus, with exciting innovations in the areas of catering and cabin cleanliness.
The judging process
In February 2026, an international jury of 27 experts will vote for the three finalists in each of the eight categories.
The 24 finalists will then present their innovations at a special event during Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg (14-16 April). Following another voting process, the winners of the Crystal Cabin Award 2026 will be announced on the evening of 14 April at a ceremony held at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce.
The full 2026 Crystal Cabin Award 2026 shortlist
Category: Accessibility
- Airbus (in cooperation with Ipeco Holdings and AMF-Bruns): Airspace U Suite
- Diehl Aviation: AURS
- Embraer: Inclusive Cabin – Braille and Tactile Placards
- J&C Aero: JumpSeat Duo II
- Letronics Wiselift: AnySeat PRM Lift
- Mercury Products (South): Airchair II
- Mobility Assist (in cooperation with NICAE Pte & NUS Enterprise): AeroSlide Transfer System
- Safran Passenger Innovations: Live Transcription and Translations
- Schneller: Integrated Braille Embossing
- SkyBudi (in cooperation with Ferno; Friedman Research Corporation; Five Rings Aerospace): SkyBudi
- Toyota Boshoku (in cooperation with JAXA): Well-Voyage Seat
Category: Breakthrough Startups
- Aeromond FlexCo: The On-Board Experience of Tomorrow.
- Chaise Longue: Elevated Class
- Fürstenberg Fittings: CoNu – Counter Nut / Taper Nut
- GMI – Green Mobility Interior: Building a more sustainable future for the interior industry
- Quvia: Building the Backbone of In-Flight Digital Experiences
- Skyted: Skyted 320
- Smair (in cooperation with EK Engineering): smairGO
- SMALLrevolution (in cooperation with Lufthansa Technik & Airbus): Closing the Loop: Circular Solutions for Aviation Plastics Recovery
- Synera: The Cabin of the Future, designed by digital Co-Workers
Category: Cabin Concepts
- ANA (in cooperation with Acumen Design Associates): THE Room FX
- Collins Aerospace: Aurora
- Design Investment (in cooperation with Air France & Stelia Aerospace): Air France First Class Suite
- J&C Aero: McFlight Catering
- PriestmanGoode (in cooperation with Riyadh Air): Riyadh Air Cabin Interior
- Thompson Aero Seating: VantageNOVA First
Category: Cabin Technologies
- AES Aircraft Elektro/Elektronik System: Galley Power Manager – Energy Orchestration ready for Retrofit
- Airbus (in cooperation with APWorks): Bionic Galley
- AviusULD (in cooperation with Eloc8): SmartULD Fire Tag
- Burrana & Seamless Digital (in cooperation with Mirus Aircraft Seating): RISE Engage
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt: Manta
- Diehl Aviation: SPELS – Self Powered Emergency Lights and Signs
- Ingenio Aerospace: AeroPuck
- Jamco & JAXA: Cabin Crew Centered “C” Galley
- Schott: SeatSpot projector
- Schroth Safety Products (in cooperation with Airbus): Installed Physical Secondary Barrier (IPSB)
- SkyPaxxx Interior Repairs (in cooperation with DeepBlue Studios): Volarex by Sky-Tiles
- SkyTender Solutions (in cooperation withOman Air Catering): The SkyBar | Aqua
- ZAL GmbH (in cooperation with 3D.aero & TU Hamburg): Automated Quality Inspection
- ZIM Aircraft Seating: The SpanX
Category: IFEC & Digital Services
- Airbus: DARE
- AirFi.aero: The AirFi Wingman
- Bluebox Aviation: Transition Deployment Model
- Delta Air Lines: Delta’s Connected Onboard Platform
- FlightPath3D: FlightPath3D Cloud Map
- Havelsan: In-Flight Leisure System
- Hughes: Hughes Fusion In-Flight Connectivity Solution
- Moment: Flymingo Mini
- Safran Passenger Innovations: Casting and Mirroring
- Thales (in cooperation with Diehl Aviation): Smart Suite
- United Airlines (in cooperation with Starlink, Axinom & Spotify): Delivering the First Connected, Omni-Channel Passenger Experience
- Veyond Metaverse: FlyMD 5D XR In-Flight Medical Assistance Platform
Category: Passenger Comfort
- ACM Aerospace: senseRest
- Airbus: Airspace A350 First Class
- BMW Designworks: SpaceFrame
- Collins Aerospace: SkyNook
- De Lussac Design Studio (in cooperation with Luxaviation): Skylounger Low Gravity Business Class Seat for 2040
- J&C Aero: Hygiene Dispenser
- ZIM Aircraft Seating: The Swing
Category: Sustainable Cabin
- AIRA (in cooperation with Acro Aircraft Seating: AIRA-Q Qualifying Data System
- Airbus: Seat eco efficient index
- Diehl Aviation: Overhead Bin Protection
- Expliseat: TiSeat
- Jiatai Aircraft Equipment (in cooperation with Tianjin Shenglong Fiber Material, Airbus & Xiamen Airlines): Coconut Fiber Foam Aircraft Seat Cushion
- Recaro Aircraft Seating: The R Sphere sustainability concept seat
- Replin by Hainsworth (in cooperation with Tintoria di Quaregna): Naturally Dyed Biodegradable Fabric for Aviation Seating
- Safran Seats: Circle technology demonstrator
- STG Aerospace: saf-Tglo ‘eco everything’ emergency exit marking
- Testori Textiles: Plant-based Fibre Textile System
- ZIM Aircraft Seating: The Frame
Category: University
- Georgia Institute of Technology (in cooperation with Airbus & Delta Air Lines): Closed-Loop Cabin Catering Data System Redesign
- Georgia Institute of Technology (in cooperation with Airbus, Delta Air Lines & TU Delft): SmarTrack | Optimized Cabin Cleaning Dispatching System
- Georgia Institute of Technology (in cooperation with Delta Airlines & Airbus): EZ-Clean Lavatory Unit Concept
- Guangdong University of Technology: AeroMorph Seat
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences: Sustainable Galley Insert for Maximum Resource Efficiency
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (in cooperation with ZAL GmbH): Smart Connected Passenger Service Unit
- Lisbon School of Architecture: Flight Forward
- Lisbon School of Architecture: SkyAccess – Fighting For Accessibility
- Technical University of Hamburg: Telescopic Partition for Accessible Aircraft Lavatories
- Tongji University (in cooperation with Boeing): Adaptive Poses for Every Purpose – Multi-purpose Seat Back Shell System
- TU Delft (in cooperation with Elysian Aircraft): Floating Cabin Interior
- TU Delft (in cooperation with Foamlab): The Circular Seat of the Future
- University of Stuttgart (in cooperation with Diehl Aviation): LighTex
- University of Texas at Austin (in cooperation with Collins Aerospace): Twin Aisle NGSA
- Virginia Tech Industrial Design (in cooperation with Collins Aerospace): Airnest
