AIX Virtual: Safety takes spotlight in Crystal Cabin Awards
Safran's "Interspace" seat won the Judges Choice Award. The company worked with Universal Movment on the concept
As part of the virtual Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) Virtual 2021, the Crystal Cabin Awards in the special categories “Clean and Safe Air Travel” and “Judges’ Choice Award” were presented for the first time. French cabin interiors specialist Safran won over the international expert jury in both categories.
Hygiene concepts for the aircraft cabin competed in the “Clean and Safe Air Travel” category. In the end, Safran Cabin took the honors with its “Beacon Clean Lavatory”. This innovative bathroom concept represented the company’s response to increased passenger hygiene expectations, combining antibacterial surfaces with hands-free features.
Safran prevailed over the other four finalists in the “Judges’ Choice Award” category, too. The Safran Seats team’s winning entry in cooperation with Universal Movement is called “Interspace.” Wing-like cushions can be retrofitted, folding out of the backrest of the aircraft seat to enhance not only comfort but also privacy, functioning as a partition between seats. The innovation is targeted primarily at short and medium-haul economy and business class flights. Jury chairwoman Melissa Raudebaugh, General Manager Aircraft Experience at Delta Air Lines, presented the winning team with the snow-white Crystal Cabin Award trophy via video link.
The two special categories were developed by a task force of jury members in response to the global coronavirus pandemic and its impact on aviation worldwide. The year 2022 is expected to see the leading international industry prize take place in person again as part of the Aircraft Interiors Expo, drawing the who’s who of the commercial aviation industry to Hamburg as it regularly does.
“Clean & Safe Air Travel” is targeted at innovations for aircraft in the areas of health, hygiene, safety, and cleanliness. The “Judges’ Choice Award” has been designed for entries that would otherwise have been submitted in one of the eight regular categories, including Cabin Systems and Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity.
The full Crystal Cabin Awards presentation can be found here.
