Two of aviation’s leading passenger experience organisations are joining forces on a new award designed to encourage innovation beyond the aircraft cabin.
The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and Crystal Cabin Award have launched the APEX/Crystal Cabin Award “Seamless Journey”, recognising concepts that connect the onboard experience with airports, ground services and other stages of a passenger’s trip.
The winner will be announced at APEX FTE EXPO in Singapore on 19 November 2026. It will also mark the Crystal Cabin Award’s debut in Asia.
Cabin innovation moves beyond the aircraft
The new category reflects a growing focus on treating the passenger journey as a connected experience rather than separating the airport and aircraft into different environments.
It will recognise concepts that link the cabin with experiences before, between and after flights. Potential entries include cabin products, digital interfaces, connected services, airport and ground solutions and broader end-to-end travel concepts.
That could include technology that lets passengers move smoothly between airport and aircraft systems, or products and services that stay connected across different stages of a trip.
The award combines the Crystal Cabin Award’s established focus on aircraft interiors with APEX’s broader passenger experience remit. It also complements the existing APEX Innovation Awards and the Crystal Cabin Award’s eight main categories.
“Over the past two decades, the Crystal Cabin Award has established a global platform for innovations that transform the aircraft cabin. With ‘Seamless Journey’, we are deliberately broadening that perspective,” Crystal Cabin Award Project Manager Angela Wockert said.
“The new award extends our eight established categories by recognizing solutions that connect the cabin with the airport, ground services and the many touchpoints before and after a flight.”
Airlines cannot deliver seamless travel alone
The category also places collaboration between different parts of aviation at its centre.
Airlines control only part of a passenger’s journey. Airports, aircraft manufacturers, ground handlers, technology companies and other suppliers operate many of the remaining touchpoints.
APEX Group CEO Dr Joe Leader said bringing those organisations together was fundamental to improving the overall passenger experience.
“While aircraft interior innovation is fundamental to the passenger experience, its impact is amplified when it integrates seamlessly with every other touchpoint of the trip – from the boarding gate to baggage claim,” Leader said.
“Airlines, airports, and manufacturers built this category together because none of them can deliver a seamless trip alone.”
Cabin innovation moves beyond the aircraft
The new category reflects a growing focus on treating the passenger journey as a connected experience rather than separating the airport and aircraft into different environments.
It will recognise concepts that link the cabin with experiences before, between and after flights. Potential entries include cabin products, digital interfaces, connected services, airport and ground solutions and broader end-to-end travel concepts.
That could encompass technology allowing passengers to move smoothly between airport and aircraft systems, for example, or products and services that remain connected throughout different stages of a trip.
The award combines the Crystal Cabin Award’s established focus on aircraft interiors with APEX’s broader passenger experience remit. It also complements the existing APEX Innovation Awards and the Crystal Cabin Award’s eight main categories.
“Over the past two decades, the Crystal Cabin Award has established a global platform for innovations that transform the aircraft cabin. With ‘Seamless Journey’, we are deliberately broadening that perspective,” Crystal Cabin Award Project Manager Angela Wockert said.
“The new award extends our eight established categories by recognizing solutions that connect the cabin with the airport, ground services and the many touchpoints before and after a flight.”
Crystal Cabin Award heads to Asia
The Seamless Journey prize also expands the geographic reach of the Crystal Cabin Award.
It will be presented during the inaugural unified APEX FTE EXPO, held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore on 18-19 November. The awards ceremony itself will take place at Swissôtel The Stamford on 19 November.
APEX is bringing its flagship Global EXPO to Asia for the first time in a decade and combining it with Future Travel Experience’s established regional event. Organisers expect more than 2,000 participants, including representatives from more than 100 airlines and airport operators.
Submissions for the Seamless Journey award opened on 3 September and close on 30 September 2026. The winner will be revealed on 19 November.
The award is separate from the main Crystal Cabin Award competition, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2027.
Entries for the eight established categories — Accessibility, Breakthrough Start-ups, Cabin Concepts, Cabin Technologies, IFEC & Digital Services, Passenger Comfort, Sustainable Cabin and University — are open from 10 September until 21 November 2026.
Those winners will be announced during Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg on 6 April 2027.
