Beating off stiff competition, Acumen and Etihad once again took home the much coveted Crystal Cabin Award – Otherwise known as The Oscars of the aircraft interiors industry- for their revolutionary ‘First Suites’ patented cabin layout.
Now flying on Etihad’s B787s, this new-to-market product is the world’s first custom first class seat ever to fly on this catalogue aircraft. This is made possible by a highly innovative fore and aft layout which ‘curves’ the aisles toward the galley complex. The design challenge from the outset was how to make the eight First Suites on the B787 a comparable premium experience to those on the much larger A380. The suites may be smaller, but they are truly luxurious; indeed this is the most luxurious experience to be found on a B787. Acumen achieved a 26in-wide seat and an 80.5in rectangular bed by devising a forward/aft-facing LOPA, which maximizes the width of the suites at the shoulder area where the space is really appreciated, while the foot end tapers.
The Crystal Cabin Awards winners are covered here in Wired magazine, and here in Aircraft Interiors Magazine. Click here a full B787 interior review by Aircraft Interiors Magazine
Yet again, the sheer depth of innovation which went into the creation of the revolutionary First Class cabin on our new fleet of Boeing 787s is being recognised by the industry’s most respected experts and professionals, as it was for our A380 in 2015. This vision has been driven by a co-creation approach with consumers and magnificently brought to reality by the many Etihad Airways employees involved in the project, together with the Etihad Design Consortium.
Peter Baumgartner, CEO of Etihad Airways
Acumen is proud to have helped Etihad Airways set a new benchmark for luxury aviation with a unique, forward-thinking, and now multi-award winning design project.
Ian Dryburgh, CEO and Founder of Acumen Design Associates