• Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects' Retractable Aircraft Cabin allows restaurants and spas to be inserted into cabins. Courtesy Crystal Cabin Awards
    Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects' Retractable Aircraft Cabin allows restaurants and spas to be inserted into cabins. Courtesy Crystal Cabin Awards
  • Airbus' 2030 Airspace Cabin Vision offers a new level of personalised travel. Courtesy Crystal Cabin Awards
    Airbus' 2030 Airspace Cabin Vision offers a new level of personalised travel. Courtesy Crystal Cabin Awards
  • Diehl's Greywater Reuse unit aims to make better use of water in aircraft cabins.
    Diehl's Greywater Reuse unit aims to make better use of water in aircraft cabins.
  • Collins Zero G attendant seat looks to boost in-flight comfort for crew. Courtesy Jaan Lin
    Collins Zero G attendant seat looks to boost in-flight comfort for crew. Courtesy Jaan Lin
  • Oman Air's First Class Cabin is shortlisted for a Crystal Cabin Award.
    Oman Air's First Class Cabin is shortlisted for a Crystal Cabin Award.
  • The Crawford Row Aircraft Wheelchair system would slide into the front row of economy class cabins.
    The Crawford Row Aircraft Wheelchair system would slide into the front row of economy class cabins.
  • JetBlue's multi-screen experience allows customers to use a range of devices simultaneously.
    JetBlue's multi-screen experience allows customers to use a range of devices simultaneously.
  • The SFS Jetlite Lite 2 design has fully customizable displays for lighting and passenger information.
    The SFS Jetlite Lite 2 design has fully customizable displays for lighting and passenger information.
  • Priestman Goode's Zero Waste swaps single-use plastic for ground coffee beans and rice husk in its overhaul of throwaway cabin trays. Courtesy Priestman Goode.
    Priestman Goode's Zero Waste swaps single-use plastic for ground coffee beans and rice husk in its overhaul of throwaway cabin trays. Courtesy Priestman Goode.
  • Ameco's Nature Touch cabin design samples from Chinese traditional bamboo elements and provides an interactive experience.
    Ameco's Nature Touch cabin design samples from Chinese traditional bamboo elements and provides an interactive experience.
  • The University of Cincinnati's concept features a long coffee table in the cabin. Courtesy Crystal Cabin Awards
    The University of Cincinnati's concept features a long coffee table in the cabin. Courtesy Crystal Cabin Awards
  • The Delft University of Technology has been shortlisted for the Crystal Cabin Awards for its economy flat bed concept.
    The Delft University of Technology has been shortlisted for the Crystal Cabin Awards for its economy flat bed concept.
  • Virgin Atlantic's upper class loft is shortlisted for a Crystal Cabin Award.
    Virgin Atlantic's upper class loft is shortlisted for a Crystal Cabin Award.

How flights of the future could feature in-flight spas and family sleeping pods


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

The best airline innovations for 2020 include a seat that turns into a family-sized bed, a retractable seat for crew and an in-flight spa.

A total of 105 concepts were revealed in the shortlist by the Crystal Cabin Awards. The only international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation, these awards are often described as the "Oscars" of the industry.

This year, there were a record number of submissions with concepts from 21 countries considered for shortlisting.

Winners will be decided across all eight categories at a ceremony in Germany on March 31, 2020. The event will be part of the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.

Among the designs being considered for an award are Dubai Aviation's retractable aircraft cabin. This would allow whole rooms, including restaurants and spas, to be installed into cabins during ground handling.

Another design would allow a row of economy seats to be turned into a family-sized bed while another child-friendly solution would add an inflatable portion to a standard economy-class chair to protect small children from falling into the footwell.

An economy upgrade is proposed courtesy of a design that uses rotating aircraft seats to create a Flex Lounge. This would allow four passengers to turn to face each other in a lounge-setting around a pop-up coffee table.

Several innovations explore ways to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint of flying in a bid to lower the industry's impact on the environment.

Click thought the gallery above to see a selection of the innovative concerts shortlisted for 2020 Crystal Cabin Awards.