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Etihad Airways wins award for Airbus A380 cabin design

The Crystal Cabin Award is the only international award recognising excellence in aircraft interior innovation.

(L-R) Ian Harbison, Editor – Aircraft Cabin Management, Calum Laming, Etihad Airways’ Vice President – Guest Experience, and Mike Crump, Co-Founder and Director, Honour Branding, part of Etihad Design Consortium, at an award ceremony in Hamburg, Germany.

Etihad Airways has scooped the coveted 2015 Crystal Cabin Award in the ‘Premium Class & VIP’ category, for its Airbus A380 upper deck cabin designs and products. The ceremony was held in Hamburg, Germany, as part of the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo.

The Crystal Cabin Award is the only international award recognising excellence in aircraft interior innovation. The international judging panel is made up of more than 20 academics, engineers, representatives of aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as well as journalists specialising in the field of aircraft interior design.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “This prestigious accolade is testament to the incredible work carried out by the Etihad Airways team and the members of the Etihad Design Consortium. It has brought to reality our vision of redefining travel by investing in innovation and attention to detail, allowing us to totally reimagine flying.

The award was presented jointly to Etihad Airways and the members of the Etihad Design Consortium (EDC) – a grouping of three brand and design agencies, who pooled their combined skills to deliver Etihad Airways’ ambition of air travel by reimagining the flying experience.

Inside Etihad Airways’ A380

The Upper Deck of the Etihad Airways A380s includes three distinct passenger experiences, as well as a luxurious lobby area; The Residence by Etihad, the world’s first private three room cabin on a commercial aircraft, featuring a living room, bedroom and bathroom; first apartments in first class, 74 per cent larger than the current first class suites, and boasting a separate bed and armchair in a unique single aisle concept – the first time this has been achieved on a widebody commercial jet; and business studios in business class, offering more luxury, technology and 20 per cent more personal space.

The upper deck cabin entrance has transformed the boarding experience into one akin to stepping into a boutique hotel. Cabin lighting has been influenced by the geometric patterns in traditional architecture and also the modern design marvels such as the mosaic-style ceiling of the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. Specially placed gobo lighting subtly refracts the airline’s ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ design onto cabin walls and floors.