What does it take to bring comfort to the skies as air travel rebounds? The 21 finalists for the 2023 Crystal Cabin Awards offer insight into what it will take to to make air travel more safe, connected and comfortable.
Aircraft Interiors Expo
Crystal Cabin Awards short list: 80+ designs that will change the way you fly
More than 80 companies and products are set to compete for top honors at the 2023 Crystal Cabin Awards, highlighting new an innovative solutions that will change the passenger experience in the years ahead.
Slowing their ESA roll
Electronically steered antennae (ESAs) are coming to commercial and business aviation. But not everyone is in a hurry to get there. Two companies with ESA products on their roadmap took a step back focusing on existing, proven technology platforms instead.
Telekom FlyNet app eases in-flight connectivity for Lufthansa passengers
Deutsche Telekom continues to smooth the process for buying WiFi on board. The company launched the FlyNet application, in partnership with Lufthansa, to help customers connect across any of the airline’s flights, regardless of the underlying internet service provider. And there’s a lot more to come.
In-flight connectivity’s next major hurdle: Smaller planes
More than a thousand larger regional jets fly across North America. All of them deliver a sub-par inflight WiFi experience. But that could soon change, as multiple airlines move to upgrade the systems on board over the next few years.
Air Canada selects Intelsat 2Ku for A321 internet service
Air Canada’s A321 fleet will soon fly with the Intelsat 2Ku in-flight internet solution. Under the agreement the carrier will upgrade its offering for 15 existing aircraft, while also taking 15 new deliveries with the system installed from the Airbus factory in Hamburg.
Airbus advances 5G ATG connections in China
China remains, somewhat surprisingly, one of the least connected aerospace markets in the world. Once again, however, there are hints that could change with the deployment of a massive air-to-ground network. Backed by local airlines, telecom companies, and – most importantly – the government, efforts are once again underway to deliver a trial ATG network in the country.
Starlink Scuttlebutt: Skepticism and Support
Nearly every conversation about in-flight connectivity at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2022 in Hamburg this week includes mention of the SpaceX Starlink offering. Company executives are wandering the show floor carrying an antenna panel that they hope will soon be certified to fly, while airlines and competitors alike debate the unique path the company has chosen for nearly every facet of the offering.
Astronics boosts cabin WiFi, power offerings
Airlines can now deliver power and WiFi on board more efficiently, thanks to the next generation of Astronics offerings. The company’s new CabinAXe wireless access point and EmPower® UltraLite G2 USB power solutions each bring notable upgrades to their respective product line.
Euphony promises top-quality sound without headphones
What if you could have top quality audio on a plane, without a headset and without disturbing others around you? Safran Seats believes its new Euphony offering can deliver precisely this.