Take a look at 4 airline cabin concepts aiming to revolutionize air travel including a bunk-style bed in economy and a minibar in business class

Taylor RainsMay 13, 2023, 18:06 IST

The crew will change the bedding between each booking.Air New Zealand

The 2023 Crystal Cabin Awards has announced 21 finalists for its annual recognition of cabin innovation.
Of the finalists, four standouts have built new concepts focused on passenger and crew comfort.

The Crystal Cabin Awards is an annual ceremony recognizing innovative aircraft interior concepts. These can include everything from more spacious seats to a fire-resistant cargo container.

Designs are judged across several categories that focus on things like passenger comfort, sustainability, and health and safety.

One of the more interesting topics for customers is improvements to the seats themselves.

Last year's "cabin concepts" winner created a narrowbody business cabin using "floating furniture" attached to the fuselage walls. The goal is to give the seat a "freer" and "more immersive" feel.

This year, the Crystal Cabin Awards has announced 21 total finalists across all categories and the winners will be announced on June 6.

Out of the finalists, four standouts reimagine passenger and crew comfort with new and unique seat designs — take a look.

Likely to not much surprise, Air New Zealand's one-of-a-kind "Skynest" is a frontrunner in the "cabin concepts" category.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Announced in June 2022, the design is a set of six bunk beds in economy class to give travelers more lie-flat sleep options.

Taylor Rains/Insider

The "Skynest" will be introduced on ANZ's Boeing 787 jets by September 2024 and will complement the carrier's fan-favorite "Skycouch," which is a row of three economy seats that converts into a bed.

The "Skycouches" can be cheaper than airline premium economy seating, which typically offers more legroom and better food, but doesn't lie flat.Air New Zealand

The "Skynest" will be introduced on ANZ's Boeing 787 jets by September 2024 and will complement the carrier's fan-favorite "Skycouch," which is a row of three economy seats that converts into a bed.

Also impressing judges is Lufthansa's new long-haul passenger experience called "Allegris."

Lufthansa's new business class front row suite, which falls under the "cabin concepts" category.Lufthansa

The product line will allow customers to choose from 14 different seat types across all four travel classes — economy, premium economy, business, and first.

Lufthansa's Allegris first class seat.Lufthansa

Each seat will focus on a different personal preference, like sleep, work, enjoyment, and entertainment.

Lufthansa Allegris premium economy seat.Lufthansa

Lufthansa said there will be options like double suites. Moreover, unique perks like in-seat heating and cooling will also be featured.

Lufthansa Allegris double bed.Lufthansa

While it sounds complicated, Lufthansa maintains the booking process will be understandable thanks to the seating plans available to customers.

Lufthansa Allegris economy seat.Lufthansa

The new business class seats will debut by the end of this year, while the new first class suites will be introduced on Airbus A350-900 aircraft in early 2024.

Lufthansa Allegris first class suite.Lufthansa

The third finalist in the "cabin concepts" category tackles the crew rest area on single-aisle jets.

On widebody planes, rest can be rows of reserved economy seats (pictured is on United's 767), curtained off business class seats, or separate compartments above the cabin.Taylor Rains/Insider

Over the past few years, many US and European airlines have started flying narrowbody planes — mostly the Airbus A321neoLR and the Boeing 737 MAX — across the Atlantic.

A Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX.Flydubai

Over the past few years, many US and European airlines have started flying narrowbody planes — mostly the Airbus A321neoLR and the Boeing 737 MAX — across the Atlantic.

This transition from predominantly widebody planes on long-haul routes comes as manufacturers drastically improve narrowbody fuel efficiency and engine reliability.

The Boeing 767-200ER was the first twin-engine aircraft that was capable of flying across the Atlantic.aviation-images.com/Getty Images

Now that these planes make financial sense, airlines see the benefit of using the lower-capacity jets — especially flying low-demand routes.

TAP Air Portugal Airbus A321LR, which the company says can "operate profitability in smaller markets that cannot be regularly served by larger widebody aircraft."Airbus

However, the industry has run into a problem — there isn't much space for a separate crew rest area.

Taylor Rains/Insider

These pod-style rooms are used for crew members on long-haul flights and are normally located above the cabin on widebody planes.

ITA Airways A350 at the Farnborough International Air Show 2022.Taylor Rains/Insider

On narrowbodies, this isn't realistic. Instead, airlines opt to reserve passenger seats for the crew — like JetBlue blocking off the last seat in Mint business class on its A321neoLR.

JetBlue Reimagined Mint seating.Courtesy of JetBlue

On narrowbodies, this isn't realistic. Instead, airlines opt to reserve passenger seats for the crew — like JetBlue blocking off the last seat in Mint business class on its A321neoLR.

While JetBlue added a curtain, some crew don't have this much privacy. One fix is Diehl Aviation's crew rest compartment design that uses the space between the first row and the door.

Diehl Aviation's crew rest compartment concept is made for single-aisle planes and is in the "cabin concepts" category.Diehl Aviation

While JetBlue added a curtain, some crew don't have this much privacy. One fix is Diehl Aviation's crew rest compartment design that uses the space between the first row and the door.

According to Diehl, the module with foldable beds is multi-purpose as it can also be used as a medical compartment or a booking option for customers.

The seat's vacuum insulation panel.Diehl Aviation

The fourth design finalist, which is under the "passenger comfort" category, is the "Ascent Front Row Seat" created by Adient Aerospace and Boeing Encore Interiors.

Adient Aerospace first class with minibar.Adient Aerospace, Boeing Encore Interiors

The design removes the overhead bin to create a huge living space for travelers, including a companion seat, a library, and even a minibar.

Ascent First Class Suite.Adient Aerospace, Boeing Encore Interiors

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Take a look at 4 airline cabin concepts aiming to revolutionize air travel including a bunk-style bed in economy and a minibar in business class

Likely to not much surprise, Air New Zealand's one-of-a-kind "Skynest" is a frontrunner in the "cabin concepts" category.

Announced in June 2022, the design is a set of six bunk beds in economy class to give travelers more lie-flat sleep options.

The "Skynest" will be introduced on ANZ's Boeing 787 jets by September 2024 and will complement the carrier's fan-favorite "Skycouch," which is a row of three economy seats that converts into a bed.

Also impressing judges is Lufthansa's new long-haul passenger experience called "Allegris."

The product line will allow customers to choose from 14 different seat types across all four travel classes — economy, premium economy, business, and first.

Each seat will focus on a different personal preference, like sleep, work, enjoyment, and entertainment.

Lufthansa said there will be options like double suites. Moreover, unique perks like in-seat heating and cooling will also be featured.

While it sounds complicated, Lufthansa maintains the booking process will be understandable thanks to the seating plans available to customers.

The new business class seats will debut by the end of this year, while the new first class suites will be introduced on Airbus A350-900 aircraft in early 2024.

The third finalist in the "cabin concepts" category tackles the crew rest area on single-aisle jets.

Over the past few years, many US and European airlines have started flying narrowbody planes — mostly the Airbus A321neoLR and the Boeing 737 MAX — across the Atlantic.

This transition from predominantly widebody planes on long-haul routes comes as manufacturers drastically improve narrowbody fuel efficiency and engine reliability.

Now that these planes make financial sense, airlines see the benefit of using the lower-capacity jets — especially flying low-demand routes.

However, the industry has run into a problem — there isn't much space for a separate crew rest area.

These pod-style rooms are used for crew members on long-haul flights and are normally located above the cabin on widebody planes.

On narrowbodies, this isn't realistic. Instead, airlines opt to reserve passenger seats for the crew — like JetBlue blocking off the last seat in Mint business class on its A321neoLR.

While JetBlue added a curtain, some crew don't have this much privacy. One fix is Diehl Aviation's crew rest compartment design that uses the space between the first row and the door.

According to Diehl, the module with foldable beds is multi-purpose as it can also be used as a medical compartment or a booking option for customers.

The fourth design finalist, which is under the "passenger comfort" category, is the "Ascent Front Row Seat" created by Adient Aerospace and Boeing Encore Interiors.

The design removes the overhead bin to create a huge living space for travelers, including a companion seat, a library, and even a minibar.