Etihad Airways gets coveted 2015 Crystal Cabin Award

UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways has recently been awarded the prestigious 2015 Crystal Cabin Award in the Premium Class & VIP category. The airline received the award for its innovative designs and products in Airbus A380 upper deck cabin. The award presentation ceremony was held in Hamburg, Germany during the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo.

The Crystal Cabin Award recognizes excellence in aircraft interior innovation and is the only of its kind international award. A panel of international judges comprising aviation experts, journalists specializing in aircraft interior design, academic and engineers pronounced their verdict in favor of Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways sought to bring innovative design on the upper deck cabin of its 10 new Airbus A380 aircrafts. The first such aircraft is presently serving the Abu Dhabi-London Heathrow route. The airline will launch new Airbus A380 aircrafts on Sydney and New York routes in the months of June and December 2015 respectively.

Providing details about the upper deck of its Airbus A380 aircrafts, Etihad Airways said that it prominently features “The Residence by Etihad”, which the world’s first ever private three room cabin on any commercial aircraft comprising of a bedroom, living room and bathroom. The upper deck also showcases “First Apartments” for premium customers traveling in first class. This will be 74 percent larger than the existing First Class Suites being offered by the airline. It boasts of a separate bed and armchair in a unique single aisle concept. The upper deck will also have “Business Studios” to be provided to customers booking business class flights. It will be offering 20 percent more personal space to the customers.

The entrance on the upper deck cabin will provide exhilarating boarding experience to the travelers. It will seem as though one is stepping into a boutique hotel. The ceiling will be of mosaic-style as depicted in the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. The cabin lighting is greatly influence by the geometric patterns in traditional architecture.