The best airline innovations for 2022 include double-decker cabins where each passenger has a sleeping space, headrests with built-in noise cancellation technology and an AI-based scanner that eliminates food waste on flights.
Each of these concepts has been shortlisted by the Crystal Cabin Awards as ideas that could be the future of aviation.
The only international award for excellence in aircraft interior innovation, these awards are often described as the "Oscars" of the industry.
This year's shortlisted concepts are spread across eight categories, from innovative cabin designs that transform the passenger experience of flying, to concepts prioritising an aviation industry that operates more sustainably.
Floating furniture and cocoon-like pods
Flying could look radically different for passengers if concepts such as Elevate make it to production. The entry by Teague and Nordam presents a "floating" furniture strategy that's designed to bring wide-body comfort to single-aisle business class flights.
Finnair's new business class offering has also made the shortlist. AirLounge does away with traditional elements of flying, such as being able to recline your seat, and instead offers passengers an organic, cocoon-like pod to settle into.
Foldable seats that can shift along their axis and to the side are part of the Shift Cabin Interior design, an entry by student Jiayi Yu from the Reutlingen University. This allows passengers to move their seats into different positions depending on whether they want to work or relax, and also gives airlines the prospect of fitting more business class seats into existing spaces.
AirSleeper is a concept from Mmillenniumm in which existing cabin spaces are transformed into double-decker cabins, with options for lie-flat beds.
The impact of the pandemic is reflected in some of the nominees, like in the Switch seat from Style and Design, which imagines a premium economy cabin with fewer passengers, social distancing and sleek armchair-like seats.
AI-powered food scanners and recycled plane cushions
Flying could also get quieter with the MyZone design from ACM - Aircraft Cabin Modification. This idea applies active noise cancellation technology to passengers' headrests to reduce cabin noise and also has the ability to use aircraft windows as loudspeakers.
In a bid to make aviation more sustainable, several companies have submitted eco-focused designs.
Some of the most impressive include The Vita Group's recycling system for old cushions that offers passengers an option to book a seat with a lower environmental impact, and Airbus Operations' AI-based Airspace Food Scanner that captures data about passengers’ food consumption, producing valuable data for airlines to adapt their catering services to better match customer demand.
Etihad Airways previously trialled similar technology on its flights, using machine learning to help tackle the problem of food waste on its flights.
Three finalists in each category will be announced in May, with the winners set to be revealed on Tuesday, June 14 at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany.
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Analysis
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The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
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The specs: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Price, base / as tested: Dh89,000 / Dh130,000
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Power: 188hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 251Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.1L / 100km
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Ovo's tips to find extra heat
- Open your curtains when it’s sunny
- Keep your oven open after cooking
- Have a cuddle with pets and loved ones to help stay cosy
- Eat ginger but avoid chilli as it makes you sweat
- Put on extra layers
- Do a few star jumps
- Avoid alcohol
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
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Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs: 2019 Cadillac XT4
Price, base: Dh145,000
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 237hp @ 5,000rpm
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
