Cathay Pacific’s Aria Suite and Inflight Art Gallery Take Top Honors in Hamburg

Cathay Pacific stole the spotlight at the 2025 Crystal Cabin Awards in Hamburg—earning two of the industry’s most coveted trophies for transforming the cabin experience into something far more personal, immersive, and intelligent.

In a year when the Crystal Cabin Awards introduced new categories aimed at redefining what innovation in air travel means, Cathay Pacific emerged as the only airline to win in two separate categories, underscoring its leadership in passenger-centric design.

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

The airline was awarded “Passenger Comfort” for its new Aria Suite IFEC system, and the “Judges’ Choice: Airline Innovation” for its daring and artistic Gallery in the Skies project.

These accolades—selected by a panel of 27 aviation experts—strongly validate Cathay Pacific’s multi-year effort to rethink the inflight experience across its fleet, particularly in the context of its ongoing Boeing 777-300ER retrofit program.

The Aria Suite

At the heart of Cathay Pacific’s award-winning retrofit is the Aria Suite, developed in collaboration with JPA Design and Reaktor. The suite won the Passenger Comfort category for introducing a seamlessly integrated experience that empowers passengers to control nearly every aspect of their onboard environment—from lighting and seating to entertainment and crew interaction—via a single, intuitive digital interface.

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

But according to Cathay Pacific, Aria is more than just a suite of features. As the name implies—evoking a solo performance—the product is designed to deliver “a performance just for you,” as described by Edward Bell, the airline’s General Manager of Brand, Insights, and Marketing Communications.

Each Aria suite offers a cocoon-like environment, a carefully crafted wrap-around space that merges comfort, technology, and privacy.

Key features include a larger 4K screen, wireless charging port, customizable lighting, and multiple storage options. Sliding doors enhance privacy, turning every seat into a secluded space.

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

Cathay’s passengers are treated from takeoff to landing with Bamford wellness products in newly designed amenity kits—adding a refined, luxury touch that complements the tactile comfort of the suite itself.

However, the innovation extends beyond the seat. The design team updated bulkheads and galleys with dark wooden panels and introduced digital controls throughout the cabin, including the capability of showing which lavatories are occupied through each seat’s in-flight entertainment screen.

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

The color palette—rooted in Cathay Pacific’s iconic teal, enriched by hues of green and gray—offers a visual language that is simultaneously modern and timeless.

“This is an incredible award to obtain,” said Catherine Barter, the airline’s Customer Experience Designer who worked on the Aria Suite through a LinkedIn post. “There were more than 80 submissions this year, and to take home one of these awards—let alone two—is no easy feat. It shows just how much we’ve pushed boundaries on the 777 retrofit. To have worked on both winning projects is, honestly, surreal.”

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

The Crystal Cabin Award judges also praised the holistic integration of hardware and software, which they called a model for next-generation cabin experiences.

Rather than layering new tech onto legacy systems, Cathay has orchestrated a full sensory environment—responsive, elegant, and deeply attuned to what passengers value most.

Gallery in the Skies

Cathay Pacific’s Gallery in the Skies has garnered the Judges’ Choice: Airline Innovation award, celebrated not only for its remarkable innovation and unparalleled comfort, but also for its striking departure from conventional cabin aesthetics.

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

This pioneering design transforms the flying experience, creating an inviting and visually stunning atmosphere that captivates passengers and sets a new standard in the airline industry.

The concept transforms the aircraft cabin into a dynamic exhibition space featuring curated original artwork by Hong Kong-based contemporary artists.

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

Each Boeing 777 showcases a unique piece, printed on aviation-grade canvas and integrated into the cabin with custom-designed, light-enhanced frames. These are not just decorative panels but part of the passenger journey.

“I am beyond proud to see ‘Gallery In The Skies’ receive the Judges’ Choice Award,” added Barter, who also led the team that envisioned and executed this project. “This began as a personal idea—how can we surprise passengers with something that delights, that they absolutely wouldn’t expect onboard? How can we tell a story in a way that makes people feel something?”

Photo: Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

“From my early days designing amenity kits to now, this project felt like the culmination of everything I love about travel and design. It’s not just about art—it’s about the user experience. It’s about transforming a cabin into something meaningful.”

The artwork is thoughtfully woven into the airline’s broader ecosystem: highlighted in the inflight entertainment system, showcased in Cathay Pacific lounges, and supported through digital and social content. Curatorial guidance was provided by respected Hong Kong art figures Dr. Henrietta Tsui-Leung and Alan Lo.

“It has been amazing to have the backing of senior management,“ Barter added. “This wasn’t just one team—it touched nearly every department at Cathay, and that collaboration is what made it possible. Seeing passengers stop, pause, and engage with these pieces in the middle of a flight—that’s what this was always about.”

Setting the Bar for What’s Next in Flight

Cathay Pacific’s dual wins at the 2025 Crystal Cabin Awards reflect a philosophical and technical evolution in airline design—one where comfort, creativity, and cultural storytelling converge.

“To receive these honors on the strength of our 777 retrofit work shows the industry what we’ve been striving for: innovation that’s not just functional, but thoughtful. These wins are a testament to the incredible passion and talent across our teams,“ said Barter.

Photo: Boeing 777-300ER. Courtesy of Cathay Pacific

Ralf Gust, President of the Crystal Cabin Award Association, echoed the sentiment. “The winning concepts show that it’s no longer just about comfort—it’s about personal relevance, technological intelligence, and social responsibility,” he said.

With the Aria Suite, Cathay Pacific is delivering a personalized, high-performance experience. With Gallery in the Skies, it redefines the cabin as a place of discovery and cultural expression. Taken together, these innovations signal a new era for the airline—one that invites passengers not just to travel, but to feel something deeply while doing so.