Airplane seating that could redefine the way we fly
Flying economy doesn't have to mean squeezing into seats and sitting upright for 12 hours.
In recent years airlines have been introducing new features to increase passenger comfort, even at the back of the plane.
This year's Crystal Cabin Awards is celebrating the best of the best when it comes to airplane design.
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The SkyNook offers increased privacy. Collins Aerospace
The 2026 winner in the Passenger Comfort category is certainly a standout for those travellers stuck at the 'literal' back of the plane.
The SkyNook, by Collins Aerospace, transforms the back row of economy class into a semi-private cabin.
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It's the perfect space for travellers who might need a little extra room - including families travelling together, passengers with disabilities, and those with sensory sensitivities.
In many planes, the last row only contains two seats because of the tapering of the aircraft body.
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The SkyNook in action. Collins
The SkyNook would convert this extra space into a suite that accommodates a car seat, bassinet, pet carrier, or service animal during the flight.
Designs for the SkyNook also show a deployable screen which would provide privacy and also decrease cabin noise.
Another finalist design, SPACEFRAME, aims to increase the useable space for economy passengers.
The seat system would allow people to recline their seat without getting in the face of the person seated behind them, thanks to a forward-sliding mechanism.
Don't worry about it being uncomfy, though - an ergonomic mesh backrest with foam lumbar zones supports you even on long-haul journeys.
These seats slide forward to recline. BMW Designworks
It also has integrated power, lighting, and wireless charging in each seat.
SPACEFRAME is celebrated as well for being a green option - the seats are significantly lighter, reducing fuel consumption, and are made from sustainable materials.
For those travelling at the pointy end of the plane, Airbus' Airspace A350-1000 first class cabin concept may pique your interest.
The vision aims to give passengers the feel of a private jet, or an exclusive apartment in the sky.
A master suite, located at the centre of the cabin, would accommodate two travellers, and have a double bed, a private lavatory, a changing area, and a bar.
This could be the future of first class. Airbus
Basically, you'd never need to leave your suite for the whole flight, and you'd probably be praying for delays on the tarmac.
Even the walls in this design are luxe - virtual panoramic 'windows' wrap around the suite, streaming images from cameras outside the aircraft.
All Nippon Airways took out the crown in the Cabin Concepts category for THE Room FX, designed in collaboration with Acumen Design Associates.
The Cabin Concepts category "recognises visions that redefine space, function, and aesthetics".
Cabin Concepts – Winner: All Nippon Airways THE Room FX. Acumen Design Associates
THE Room FX concept combines two seats into a single compact structure, thereby reducing weight and space requirements – an important foundation for increased comfort and higher seating capacity.
The seatback remains fixed while only the legrest moves, creating a continuous lie-flat surface.
The jury called out the concept for "delivering a spacious passenger experience within a highly constrained footprint".
