Marisa Garcia At the APEX Awards in Los Angeles, Airbus’ “Connected Experience” took home honors in the Crystal Cabin Award in the special category, “Best Customer Journey Experience”.
The application for integrated passenger and crew communication in the aircraft cabin prevailed over a voice-controlled aircraft lavatory from Diehl and a concept for light-based data transfer from Latécoère.
The Crystal Cabin Award is the world’s leading accolade for aircraft cabins and products.
Almost 27 jurors from across the spectrum of civil aviation and all its segments decide the winners. The award ceremony in the USA also ushers in the new submission phase for the eight main categories of the Crystal Cabin Awards, to be presented in Hamburg on 31 March 2020.
The “Connected Experience” from Airbus networks passengers and crew with the aircraft cabin. The app allows passengers to order food or to make contact with a flight attendant. Members of the cabin crew receive important information from the networked cabin, for example, the status of overhead lockers or the need to clean a lavatory, and can use their device to regulate temperature, lighting, and music for passengers.
The platform will link in real-time interconnected core cabin components, including the galleys, meal trolleys, seats, overhead bins, and other cabin elements. It will allow passengers to receive a much more personalized travel experience. Airbus is working with additional suppliers to expand the services linked to the Connected Experience.
Airbus A320 Airspace CabinSoeren Scholz, Airbus’ SVP Cabin & Cargo Programme said: “This seamless inter-connectivity within the cabin will be of tremendous benefit to passengers who will be able to enjoy individually tailored, personalized and high-quality inflight service.”
The special Crystal Cabin Awards category “Best Customer Journey Experience” relates to products that enrich and enhance the passenger experience, with hardware or software solutions, throughout the entire air journey, from planning and booking to beginning the journey and all the way to the time after landing. Submissions may be targeted at passengers, airlines, manufacturers and/or suppliers. The aim of the category, with the winner announced to coincide with the North American APEX EXPO and Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas trade shows, is to provide inspiring examples of how new products and services can be developed for personalized passenger experience.
This special category complements the existing eight categories awarded each year in Hamburg for the Crystal Cabin Awards: “Cabin Concepts”, “Cabin Systems”, “Greener Cabin, Health, Safety and Environment”, “Inflight Entertainment & Connectivity”, “Material and Components”, “Passenger Comfort Hardware”, “University” and “Visionary Concepts”. Amongst the winners in 2019 were such renowned industry representatives as Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Recaro and United Airlines.
The entry phase for the eight main categories of the Crystal Cabin Awards has now commenced. Between now and 18 October, the Crystal Cabin Award Association and the 27 expert jurors will search for 2020’s top innovations in aviation.
For further information on entering: www.crystal-cabin-award.com
